Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday VHI Healthcare announced it fourth price increase in three years. I have no doubt that other health insurers will follow suit in the near future. It could be perceived that this Government is in cahoots with insurers in efforts to drive as many families as possible out of the health insurance market. More than 6,000 people a month are giving up private health insurance. The number leaving exacerbates the problem of providing a sustainable health insurance model. This Government has committed to the implementation of universal health insurance but all policies pursued by the Government have undermined families in their efforts to retain their private health insurance.

Last night I raised the issue of the costs charged by some private hospitals to private health insurers. In one case a private hospital billed an insurance company €17,000 for one night's accommodation with a bill of €2,000 for surgical procedures.

The Tánaiste's policy for universal health insurance would ensure that as many people as possible would retain private health insurance while the Government would pay the premiums for those who cannot afford to pay. However, the situation seems to be unsustainable. Families are making decisions on whether they will stop paying for private health insurance or else not fill the tank with oil or gas or make other basic cuts in household expenditure in order to fund that private health insurance. This expenditure on private health insurance is not a luxury. The Government encourages people to take out private health insurance but every other policy decision undermines them.

Will the Minister for Finance reverse the cap on tax relief for private health insurance, in view of the fact he said only gold-plated health insurance policies would be affected? On the contrary, it is affecting every family in this country currently attempting to retain their private health insurance. Will he reverse that attack on ordinary families?

See this speech in context