Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

In response to Deputy McGinley's comments on the Voluntary Health Insurance, the granting of a medical card did not affect private health insurance policies except in respect of the VHI's plan P. Approximately 25,000 people have the plan which covers the inpatient hospital charge. The VHI has informed me that while there is no evidence that people exited the plan, anyone who did so may rejoin without penalty.

See this speech in context