Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On that point, Mr. Sloyan made the point that older people face greater premium increases because they are reluctant to switch and they are carrying a bigger burden. Is that not an admission that the authority has singularly failed to encourage people to switch from one policy to another? It is the authority's responsibility to encourage people to do that. That is the authority's main role in regard to the public. What specifically is the authority doing to try to address that issue among the older cohort of people?

Mr. Sloyan said claims were the biggest part of the increase in the cost of premiums but the VHI report stated that claims inflation is at 15%. Premiums have gone up 60%, so there is a gaping hole in that argument. Will Mr. Sloyan explain that?

The question I asked earlier, and which every member asked, is what incentives are there to grow the market and to try to keep young people in the market? Mr. Sloyan failed to give any answer. The only solution is to introduce lifetime community rating but it is pointless introducing that because we are moving to universal health insurance. The authority has no solutions to the haemorrhaging of people from the private health insurance system which will increase the cost significantly for older people who will not be able to afford to pay premiums if they keep raising.