Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

MRI scans are another issue in this regard. The cost of such scans is being advertised at present in private hospitals at €200. Does the Minister of State or any Member present know how much an MRI scan costs through the VHI? It is a lot more than the €200 that is being advertised on the public airwaves by private hospitals and this must be tackled.

While one cannot blame the VHI for everything, I do not like the manner in which it is pushing out its elder customers who had been with it for years. As my colleagues have stated previously, everyone begins to worry about health later in life. Thankfully, my family does not have health issues and my decision to not renew my health insurance was more based on principle and the manner in which the system is being screwed by all sectors in the health service. While many people have told me this was a foolish thing to do, I hope that when Fine Gael is on the Government side of the House and introduces a new health system, the money will follow the patient. Hopefully, this will be the end of the days of giving block grants to hospitals and asking them to do the best they can with them, rather than having the money follow the patient. That will be a better day for the people and their health.

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