Health Minister Nelson Bascome yesterday announced that Kurron Bermuda Limited has been awarded the contract to develop FutureCare, a new insurance scheme ensuring senior's health needs are covered in retirement.

Earlier this year, the Government publicly posted a Request For Proposal (RFP) seeking proposals to deliver FutureCare.

Four proposals were received – Sanigest Internacional from Costa Rica, Morneau Sobeco from Canada, Oliver Wyman Consulting from the United States and Kurron Bermuda Limited.

Mr. Bascome said: "In the Government's 2007 policy platform, we stated that a key policy priority is to provide affordable health care for our senior citizens, again in the 2008 speech from the Throne, it was noted that FutureCare will be the hallmark of this Government's plan to create a fair, affordable and equitable healthcare system for Bermuda.

"As a result of that review, the panel proposed and Cabinet agreed that Kurron Bermuda Limited be awarded the contact to deliver FutureCare at a cost of $1.1 million. The selection process has now been completed following due diligence by technical officers and we now get down to work in earnest to deliver FutureCare by our promised dated of April 1, 2009."

The Minister said that they will develop FutureCare from HIP, the Mutal Reinsurance Fund, subsidy claims and overseas subsidy claims but it will eventually be implemented as a department under the Ministry.

An evaluation panel consisting of the CEO of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, CEO of the Bermuda Health Council, Assistant Financial Secretary, Assistant Director of Social Insurance and the Permanent Secretary of Health was established to review and make a recommendation on the proposals.

Principal of Kurron Bermuda Limited., Andrew Cameron said: "On behalf of Kurron, we are enormously honoured to have been selected to develop the FutureCare initiative to provide affordable health care for the senior citizens of Bermuda.

"We appreciate that we were selected from a group of well-qualified vendors. Our firm, Kurron, is uniquely qualified, poised and thoroughly prepared to develop FutureCare.

"With nearly 20 years of experience providing health care programs and systems throughout the world, Kurron is uniquely positioned to work with the Government of Bermuda to develop a comprehensive senior health care program.

"The Kurron team is already actively engaged in the research, analysis, and execution of the project. We could not be more excited about being of service to the Government and to the people of Bermuda."

Kurron is currently involved in an $11 million five-year contract to consult on the running of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and to help appoint senior managers.

Mr. Bascome added: "I have confidence in Kurron Bermuda Limited to deliver a product that will not only meet the needs of our seniors, but will allow them to live with the degree of dignity they deserve.

"Work began in earnest on July 1 and as a milestones of the project come to pass, you will be kept informed of the progress we are making to deliver this exciting and important initiative."