James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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634. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review a decision made by a national health insurance provider not to cover a person (details supplied) in County Longford for treatment, especially in view of the fact that the same insurance policy with the same insurance company covered previous admissions to the same hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11534/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health I have no role in the commercial decisions of any of the private health insurance companies. Health insurers operate in a competitive market and are free to include certain terms and conditions in their policies, providing they are in compliance with the health insurance legislation. VHI Healthcare adjudicates claims based on the information submitted to it by the hospital and the consultants responsible for the treatment carried out. Benefit is paid for claims in accordance with the terms and conditions of a customer's policy.

I understand that the customer in question has taken his complaint to the Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau for an independent adjudication of his case, which is the appropriate office to deal with this matter.