Healthy Options
The health insurance market in Ireland could be in for another dramatic shake-up following the publication by Mary Harney yesterday of proposed reforms of the sector. One suggested modification of the current system of community rating, where everybody pays the same for the same level of cover, would mean that a 45-year-old entrant to health insurance would have to pay 45 per cent more than someone of 30 taking out a similar policy while a 60-year-old would be expected pay almost double. The VHI was quick off the mark with doom laden predictions that the changes, if implemented, would lead to dramatic price hikes for the lot of us. Before you rush out and buy a policy, it might be worth bearing in mind that the chances of any changes actually being implemented ahead of the general election are pretty close to zero. And come the end of May it’ll probably be back to the drawing board.
Well, no sooner had I said that the chances of the proposed reforms being passed before a general election was called were close to zero, the Government went and passed them. The VHI are hopping mad, Bupa’s new owners, the Quinn Group aren’t best pleased either and all the opposition parties seem to think consumers will end up being ripped off in the wake of the new measures. At least Mary Harney is pleased with herself.
Comment by Conor | April 26, 2007 at 7:13 pmnot the doctors, nurses consultants, mrsa or trolleys; todays emergency legislation was to alter the levels of the playing field for independent insurers. 25 minutes of debate in the Dail. What about cancer treatment emergency legislation? 8 million euro slashed off the bill, no risk no equalisation.
Comment by Brian Greene | April 27, 2007 at 2:17 am