Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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450. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to tackle the issue of health insurance providers charging consumers inaccurately for services, for example, a consumer paying for a private room but staying in a public ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39717/16]

Simon 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. 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. The 2013 Act makes it clear that it is not where the private service is received that matters, but rather it is the receiving of such private services that makes patients liable for the charges and obliges the charges to be raised.

Regarding the broader issue of charging in respect of customers for inaccurate services, it is my understanding that health insurers issue a statement of benefit to each customer detailing the payments made by that insurer on their behalf. If customers think that there is a mistake on their statement or that their insurer has been charged for treatments not received, they can notify the insurer accordingly. The insurer can then examine the individual case, on behalf of their customers, to ensure the claim details are accurate. In this way, incidences of error or overcharging by healthcare providers can be identified, fully investigated and rectified as appropriate.