Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A person taken into hospital tonight will be charged €75 if he or she does not have VHI or a medical card. As soon as a person is in shape enough to sign his or her name if he or she has VHI or other health insurance, the health insurance company will charge over €800 a night for the same bed for the same patient. That is what is driving up the cost of health insurance. It has been highlighted to me several times. If a person does not have health insurance, the cost is €75 per night but the very minute a staff member goes into the room and gets the person to sign that he or she has health insurance, the health insurance company charges over €800. That is totally unfair and is driving up the cost of health insurance for ordinary people. It is unfair. It is daylight robbery. If the same bed only costs €75 in one instance, how is it fair that €800 is being charged for it? I want that looked into and dealt with because it has the country and the people who are paying for health insurance robbed. If their income allows, most people will pay for health insurance. It is going beyond their reach now because what is happening is totally unfair. The HSE has ordered it. There are five Ministers and Ministers of State in the Department of Health. I have highlighted this anomaly before. I want it dealt with because it has wrecked private health insurance for all those who try to access it. It is totally unfair.

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