Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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624. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 474 of 11 April 2017, if his Department will make or has made a submission to the Health Insurance Authority review of lifetime community rating in view of the impact on staff of the Department returning here following working abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19410/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has made a formal submission to the Health Insurance Authority’s (HIA) review of the Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) legislation, and recently held a follow up meeting with HIA representatives.

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has responsibility for the administration of foreign postings for officials from all Government Departments who are assigned to serve the State for periods at our Missions abroad. The Department manages a comprehensive system of supports for these officials and their eligible dependents, including an international health insurance policy.

The introduction of LCR legislation in 2015 has had a significant impact on the operation of this health insurance policy. This is a matter of considerable concern to my Department, and I know to other Departments and State Agencies who assign officials for periods abroad. As a result, officials from my Department have been actively engaged in seeking a solution to the challenges posed, including with the Department of Health, the HIA and other relevant bodies. We now await the outcome of the HIA’s review.