The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the assistance provided to the elderly by the supplementary health care system. Information was collected from interviews with managers of chronic diseases management programs and/or of specific programs in this area. Information was organized in cases and analyzed. Eleven companies operating private health plans in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo were investigated. A general care model for the elderly was defined for the analysis. This model consists in a proposal for a care and assistance system hierarchically organized according to the deterioration of the functional capacity of the elderly (levels of dependence). None of the six companies that had health plans for the elderly already implemented provided full assistance to all enrolled seniors. There are major differences in the stage of development of their programs. Four companies had already implemented plans and two companies had plans in development. Even with the teams of managers and professionals working on some level within the advocated model, none of these companies followed any logic of integrated care and monitoring in all stages of the ageing process in accordance with the degree of dependence of the associate.
Elderly; Supplementary health care system
