Health insurance alterations have gone before the Senate — minus changes to governmental cover for mammograms.

One Bermuda Alliance Senator Lynne Woolridge said the mammography amendment had been dropped in the face of “significant public misgivings”.

Opposition Senator Renee Ming said the Progressive Labour Party supported the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2015, which is largely aimed at cost savings.

On mammography, Sen Ming told the Upper House she was thankful the minister had listened “not just to the people of Bermuda, but physicians”.

Although it had the backing of the Bermuda Health Council, it was rigorously opposed in the House by the PLP and dropped after “bras for a cause” protesters turned out in force outside the Cabinet Building.

Bermuda spends $11,252 per capita on healthcare costs — the highest in the world, Independent Senator Joan Dillas-Wright said.

Hospital costs are a significant contributor, she said, voicing her support for the “care in the community” component of the Act aimed at reducing reliance on the hospital.

Sen Dillas-Wright commended changing the name of the Standard Hospital Benefit to the Standard Health Benefit, as it is “not just hospital-based — there is funding for care and services that can be provided in the community, and that is the way to go”.

She also recommended that the shelved National Healthcare Plan be “resuscitated”.

The Act includes a 12 per cent increase in the Standard Premium Rate.

Independent Senator James Jardine voiced concern over the cost of health insurance, telling the Senate that while a healthy lifestyle was crucial, it was “extremely important that we get to grips with the costs of running our hospital — much of the cost of our insurance is located there”.

Diallo Rabain, the Opposition Leader in the Senate said the Act increased premiums, modified benefits and cut costs, but failed to address the impact of rising health costs on ordinary Bermudians.

On the topic of a National Health Plan, Sen Woolridge said a Bermuda Health Plan was at present being worked upon.

The Act was subsequently approved.