Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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610. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of any clause on private health insurance policies that restrict cover for people who have donated an organ outside of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16306/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has a voluntary community rated private health insurance market. Community rating means that health insurers cannot alter their prices based on an individual’s health risk status, age or sex, or the frequency of the provision of health services to a person.

However, new customers may be required to serve a waiting period before they are fully covered, though accidents and injuries will be covered immediately. The maximum waiting period for illnesses that start after a person joins is 26 weeks, while for pre-existing illnesses which existed in the 6 months before they joined, the maximum waiting period is 5 years. Once the individual serves these waiting periods, they will not have to serve them again if they switch to another insurer, as long as they have not had a break in cover of more than 13 weeks. The insurer may also impose waiting periods for any extra benefits available on a new plan.