A GAP in the island's insurance coverage was yesterday filled with the unveiling of two programmes specifically targeting persons once considered ineligible.

Launched by the island's largest Bermuda-owned insurance company, the Argus Group, the Essential Health package and the Classic Health package offer coverage to residents not eligible for group benefits.

"Prior to the new Argus individual health plan, seniors had the option of choosing the Government-sponsored HIP programme, which provides public room and board at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and limited coverage for surgery and anaesthetic, plus $1,000 for prescriptions for those over 65; or they could purchase a private insurance plan from a private insurance company," explained Cindy Campbell, executive vice-president of the Argus Group.

As described by the company, the Essential Health package provides for hospital stay in a public ward room as well as emergency care on the island and overseas. Surgery, anaesthesia, medical treatment and diagnostic services are also included in the plan. Also provided for are overseas major medical benefits in the case of emergency and treatment where care unavailable in Bermuda is referred abroad.

The Classic Health package includes all the above benefits plus doctors' home and office visits, prescription drug benefits and preventive and diagnostic benefits such as annual medical exams.

"The new plans have been created by the Argus Group to accommodate groups of people who have had difficulty obtaining comprehensive health insurance in the past," said Gerald Simons, president and CEO of the Argus Group.

"We have designed these products in response to requests from the public for more flexible individual health insurance. These products provide customers with excellent coverage in Bermuda and at some of the world's best hospital facilities abroad at affordable premiums."

Among those appropriate to the two schemes are "retirees, individuals who have recently lost their jobs and who do not have alternative health insurance, the self-employed, long-term visitors, the unemployed, and dependent children over 19 years of age who are not attending school and are unemployed", a company spokesperson said.

As well, the plans allow for current Argus customers to convert from a group health plan to either scheme without being medically underwritten."

Added Ms Campbell: "The Argus individual health plans, Essential Health and Classic Health, offer significant advantages when compared with other individual health plans on the market at present. The plans give customers flexibility, allowing them to choose a plan according to their healthcare requirements and budget. The new products offer individual health care with a group plan feel."

q Customers interested in learning more about the two schemes should contact the Argus Group customer service hotline on 298-0888.