Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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525. To ask the Minister for Health the reason previous health insurance cover taken out in other countries, for example the UK, is not taken into consideration with respect to the lifetime community rating that is applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11487/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Our health insurance system is voluntary and community-rated, which means that people who are old or sick do not have to pay more for health insurance than the young and healthy. Since 1 May 2015, young people are encouraged to join the private health insurance market at an earlier age and thus avoid late entry loadings of 2% per annum which may apply at age 35 and older.

Previous periods of health insurance cover in Ireland are taken into account in calculating the loading that may apply to individuals, whereby the level of loading is reduced by the relevant credited period(s). These credited periods apply to community-rated health insurance cover with registered health insurers in this country.

Periods of cover on health insurance plans held outside the State (including the UK) are not taken into account when calculating loadings, as such plans do not comply with private health insurance legislation in Ireland.