Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 181: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she or the Health Service Executive has a role in monitoring BUPA and their patients especially in relation to overcharging or making mistakes with payments. [18283/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My position is that, as Minister for Health and Children, I do not have either a statutory or administrative role in commercial arrangements between insurers and their subscribers where health insurance contracts comply with the provisions of the Health Insurance Acts and related regulations.

The Deputy may wish to note that BUPA Ireland take part in the Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme. The principal function of the Financial Services Ombudsman is to deal with eligible complaints by mediation and, where necessary, investigation and adjudication. This means that if an individual has a dispute about a health insurance issue with their insurer, he or she can ask the Financial Services Ombudsman Council to decide on the matter, and this decision is binding on the insurer.

The contact details are as follows: The Financial Services Ombudsman, 32 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2.