Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Health and Children

Tax Code

9:00 pm

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way a person may avail of the tax relief on health insurance for people aged over 50 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1191/10]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Standard tax relief on private health insurance is available to all health insurance policy holders at a rate of 20%. This tax relief is granted at source by the health insurer, meaning that there is no need for any policy holder to claim the relief - they need only supply their PPS number to their health insurer.

In addition to the standard tax relief of 20% and in order to ensure that health insurance costs for older people remains affordable, the Government introduced additional age-related tax relief on private health insurance under the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The tax relief applies in respect of insured persons over the age of 50. There is no requirement for any insured person to apply for the additional tax relief, as again it is applied at source by the private health insurer. The health insurance market is community rated so that all persons pay the same net price for the same product, irrespective of age or health status.

The levels of tax relief for 2010 have been set as follows:

AgeTax relief
50-59€200
60-69€525
70-79€975
80+€1,250

The additional age-related tax relief is funded by a stamp duty levied on private health insurers in respect of every person they insure. The rates of the stamp duty/levy for health insurance contracts taken out or renewed in 2010 will be as follows: €185 in respect of each insured person aged 18 or over; €55 in respect of each insured person aged less than 18.

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