Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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50. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the projections for the average cost-per-person for universal health insurance; if he will report on discussions he has had on this matter; if he is considering reducing levels of cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27648/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Following publication of the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance,a major costing exercise, involving the Department of Health, the ESRI and others, was initiated. The purpose of the exercise is to examine the cost implications of a change to a multi-payer, universal health insurance model, as proposed in the White Paper. Draft results from the initial phase of the costing exercise were presented to me at the end of May. The research underlying these results is still undergoing peer review and is not yet finalised. However, the draft results are already informing deliberation on next steps, including the necessity for further research and cost modelling.

Ultimately, the UHI costing exercise is a major research project with a number of phases. The next phases in the costing exercise are likely to include deeper analysis of the key issue of unmet need and a more detailed comparative analysis of the relative costs and benefits of alternative funding models using bottom-up costing techniques. The draft results from the initial phase, as well as the plans for the next phase of research, will inform discussions with the Taoiseach and the Cabinet Subcommittee on the best long-term approach to achieving universal healthcare.