Written answers

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Department of Health

Health Insurance Cover

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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465. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the unfairness regarding private health insurance upon admittance to a public hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29769/16]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Act 1970 provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services and out-patient public hospital services. This has not changed in any way.

The core purpose of the public hospital system is to provide services to public patients. Persons can opt to be treated privately on admission to a public hospital, in which case they are liable for the consultants fees and hospital charges arising for that episode of care, whether paid for by the patient or by a health insurer on their behalf.

The Health (Amendment) Act 2013 revised the charging regime in respect of private patients in public hospitals. Previously, the cost of providing private services in public hospitals were not reflected in the charges levied on private patients, as only a €75 statutory in-patient charge applied. The private in-patient charge applicable now takes account of all the services which a public hospital provides, for example, accommodation, nursing, diagnostics (such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI etc.) and other overheads and maintenance costs. Users of private services in public hospitals now pay a more realistic charge towards the full costs of providing those services, which the Government believes is a much fairer and more equitable arrangement.

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