Written answers

Thursday, 27 September 2007

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Charges

5:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was charged for medical expenses; and if she will review this decision in view of the information supplied. [21351/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under Department of Health and Children Circular 5/91 hospitals are required to establish if patients wish to be treated as public or private patients. A patient who has private health insurance is entitled to choose to be treated as a public patient. To ensure that those who opt to be treated privately are clear on the financial implications of admission as a private patient, they should be asked to sign a form to thiseffect.

As you indicate that the patient was designated private without his consent, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issue directly to the Deputy.

In relation to insurance cover for the procedure, at present private health insurers are entitled to apply an initial waiting period of 26 weeks in respect of persons aged under 55, 52 weeks in respect of those aged between 55 and 64, and 104 weeks for persons aged 65 and over before private health insurance cover becomes effective. In addition, insurers are entitled to apply longer waiting periods, up to 10 years, in relation to pre-existing conditions.

Enquiries have been made of VHI and having established the history of the condition that necessitated the treatment involved, and confirmation by the individual's G.P. that the condition was present prior to his joining VHI, the claim was rejected.

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