Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 February 2003

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

I wish to see competition in health insurance. Every citizen of this State should have the opportunity to purchase health insurance, whether from VHI, BUPA or any other source. There is a role for all of those companies but if we try to tweak the market or create a false market, competition will be stifled and, in the long run, the consumer will suffer. While the airline industry may not be the best example, we have seen what happened in the absence of competition in that sector and the blockages which were put in place – and are still kept in place by some people – in an attempt to stifle competition. When competition finally burst through, the consumer was the primary beneficiary. I believe the same principle applies to health insurance.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.