Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 134: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the attached correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23293/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 135: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on the risk equalisation issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23294/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.

The Government is strongly committed to maintaining community rating in the Irish health insurance market. Provision for the operation of risk equalisation is essential to the policy of maintaining a community rated health insurance market. The Health Insurance Act 2001 provides that risk equalisation should be introduced where to do so is in the best overall interests of the health insurance consumers.

The Deputy will be aware that I decided on balance recently not to trigger risk equalisation payments in the health insurance market at this point in time. The matter now rests until the Health Insurance Authority's next report for the period January to June 2005, due to be received by me towards the end of October. This is subject to developments in court proceedings currently in train against recourse to risk equalisation in the health insurance market.

The correspondence to which the Deputy refers is a letter from the managing director of BUPA Ireland, which I understand was part of a mailshot to its customers, inviting them to protest to my office against the introduction of risk equalisation transfers. The correspondence had no bearing on my decision.