Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate the issue of health insurance. Yesterday, VHI Healthcare clearly stated that it would allow the company to go bankrupt rather than charge increases in premia next September. The Health Insurance Agency has a duty to recognise the difficulties faced by VHI Healthcare compared with the other health insurance providers, BUPA Ireland in particular. A transfer subvention of €23 million is required by VHI Healthcare. It is unfair to drive VHI Healthcare into a position where it will have to provide for the additional claims from its reserves because of the age profile of its subscribers.

The Government gave a clear undertaking to the agency that this risk equalisation charge would be transferred to VHI Healthcare. Loyalty must be shown to the original health insurance providers. If it faces a threat of bankruptcy, the Minister should immediately intervene and do what is necessary to allow it to carry on with its very satisfactory insurance scheme.