Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Health the opportunities that exist to appeal the nine month loading clause available to citizens from another country taking up residence here in view of the fact that the clause is not immediately apparent when assessing health insurance products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18423/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under Lifetime Community Rating (LCR), anybody who lived outside of the State on 1 May 2015 and who subsequently moves to live in Ireland has nine months to purchase inpatient private health insurance without incurring loadings.

For persons considering the purchase of health insurance, the independent regulator the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) has a helpful comparison tool on its website for use when assessing the range of health insurance products available (www.hia.ie). The HIA homepage also has a dedicated section about LCR specifically, which outlines clearly for consumers the purpose of the scheme, the circumstances in which loadings may apply and contains an explanatory section of relevant information.

In addition, when a person contacts a private health insurer to discuss health insurance, the insurer will discuss products available, including the premium price and the application of any loadings that may apply on the premium.  

If a person wishes to make a complaint, following the purchase of a health insurance product, they should first discuss it directly with their insurer. If unable to resolve the complaint, they can contact the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.