WednesdaythIarch 27, 19%

L. George Dewar: Is it just on account of the specialists fees that you are putting it up the $7.00?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: Oh no, there are many reasons why; that is just one of the reasons.

Along with this I have approached the Blue Cross—Blue Shield to see if they would give us another plan, not a welfare plan, not a subsidized plan, not a plan that we would ask the Medical Society to subsidize, but a regular Blue Shield- Plan whereby our Senior Citizens, our Senior Citizens who are not necessarily in great need; our Senior Citizens who do not qualify for welfare, but Senior Citizens who might have a small savings but who could lose the whole thing by a long ser- ious illness. We are negotiating with Blue Cross-Blue Shield to see if it is possible whereby we might set up a government Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan where these people could register in a governmnt plan and could pay their own premium if necessary. As it is at the present time, we will not cover the Senior Citizens who are receiving Old Age Security under our Welfare plan.

L. George Dewar: Mr. Speaker, the Senior Citizens in the Special Care Units, are they all covered with Blue Shields plans?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: The Senior Citizens who are in units of special care, River- view Manor, Maplewood Manor and we are now going to cover Somerset Manor, will all be covered under our welfare plan because they are receiving welfare assis-

tance under the General Welfare Assistance, and they will be covered by Blue Cross- Blue Shield.

L. George Dewar: All of them, the ones that are getting Old Age Security?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: If they are getting Old Age Security, anyone who does not pay their full cost and part of their cost must be subsidized by the Department of Welfare then we can add them on our welfare plan and Blue Shield will accept them.

Leo F. Rossiter: What do you charge in Riverside Manor. What do you charge per month?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: Riverview Manor is rated at the per diem cost of $9.00 per day.

Leo F. Rossiter: Nine dollars per day. The recipient of Old Age Pension, then, would be subsidized?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: The recipient of Old Age Pension would be subsidized to the tune of about $170.00 a month.

Leo F. Rossiter: They would come under this.. . .

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: They would come under Blue Cross-Blue Shield, under the welfare plan.

If we can negotiate. . . .

Lloyd G. MacPhail: Mr. Speaker, would you permit a question? How do you explain the action of your Department, or at least how do you explain the fact for recipients of the Old Age Assistance that the cost of living has not gone up for them when the Federal Department says the cost of living has gone up $1.50 on every $75.00.

How do you explain the fact that it has not gone up in supplementary payments which you make?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: Mr. Speaker, he is about fifteen minutes behind_now as we have covered the Old Age Assistance part, but at the same time we dld not ever say that the cost of living hasn’t gone up for those people. It has gone up for everybody.

Lloyd G. MacPhail: You are not paying it though.

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: What do you mean we are not paying it?

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