James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the percentage increase in VHI premiums sanctioned by her per annum from 1997 to 2008 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43482/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Increases in prices of health insurance plans are a matter for the VHI Board, as provided for by the Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 1996. The Act provided that any such increases were notified to the Minister and, if circumstances necessitated it, a justified veto could be applied. This provision was subsequently repealed by the Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2008 and I now have no role in the pricing of health insurance plans by VHI. It is a matter for the VHI Board to determine the levels of the increases which they introduce having regard to business considerations, the increasing cost pressures it faces and the need to accrue reserves. There are several underlying cost pressures in private health insurance, such as medical inflation, the aging of the insured population, increased volume in activity, and increases in the prices of public hospital beds. The data requested in tabular form is set out below. It should be noted that VHI had no price increase in 2008.

VHI Price increases 1997 - 2008