Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to private health insurers occasioned by the public and private health sectors in each of the past five years and to date in 2010; the extent to which health insurance costs fluctuate over this period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26168/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Private health insurers and private hospitals, both of which operate in the commercial private sector, do not routinely submit the data requested to my Department. Average price increases for private health insurance policies for the period in question are provided in the following table.

Notes:

1. In each row increases took effect between September of the first year and March of the second year.

2. Increases are those announced by the insurers as "average increases" except for the Quinn increase in 2007 /2008 (see note 3). Percentage increases vary significantly by products.

3. Quinn did not announce an average increase in 2007 / 2008. Quinn had a range of different increases / reductions in the core price for different plans, removed the group discount for most people and introduced a charge for monthly premiums. The figure included here is the increase in average premium paid per person, which will include the effect of upgrading / downgrading.

In relation to the premium paid per insured person over the period in question, the average increases are as follows:

2004-2005 5.6%

2005-2006 9.5%

2006-2007 10.4%

2007-2008 8.3%

2008-2009 11.5%

Data on the split between the public and private sector is not generally collated. However, it is estimated that of the estimated €1.7bn to be paid out in claims by all insurers in 2010, about €400m would be paid to public hospitals (about 7% of the estimated Exchequer allocation this year to acute hospital services), €810m to private hospitals, €380m to hospital consultants (in addition to the public pay bill for consultants of €450m) and €100m for other services.