Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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446. To ask the Minister for Health with reference to the Lifetime Community Rating Scheme, if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be entitled to credit, for the entirety of that person's coverage period; the date on which the person's initial cover began; the arrangements in place to validate applicants' previous period of cover; if applicants will be required to produce proof of their insurance record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10552/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) is being introduced to encourage people to take out private health insurance at a younger age. Encouraging more people to join the market at younger ages helps spread the costs of older and less healthy people across the market, helping to support affordable premiums for all.

There is a nine month grace period, which expires on 30 April 2015, during which time as many people as want to can take out health insurance without incurring loadings. If an individual of any age buys health insurance during this time, no loadings will apply. From 1 May 2015 onwards, a credited period can apply where individuals previously had health insurance. In addition, a credited period (in total not exceeding 3 years) is also available for individuals who previously had health insurance but relinquished cover since 1 January 2008 due to unemployment. I attach a Frequently Asked Questions document prepared by my Department as a useful guide for information. The Health Insurance Authority website www.hia.ie contains additional information and includes an LCR calculator which provides a useful estimate of the level of loading that may apply.

Credit is given for any periods of in-patient cover from age 23 years onwards. The responsibility rests with the individual to prove to the insurer their entitlement to a credited period. An individual will be able to source a statement from their insurer (or previous insurers) for any recent periods of insurance cover, as policyholder information is normally held for a period of at least six years by an insurer to satisfy their responsibilities under various legislative requirements. Beyond this timeframe, the onus will be on individuals to provide evidence that satisfies an insurer of their previous in-patient cover. The level of loading to apply in an individual case will be dependent on an insurer satisfying itself of a person's entitlement to any credits being claimed, taking account of that individual's ability to document periods of historical insurance cover. The level of loading will then be reduced by the relevant credited period(s).