Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

517. To ask the Minister for Health the reason private health insurance companies only cover the cost of a stay in psychiatric hospitals for a maximum of 100 days, with unwell and vulnerable patients in the middle of a treatment plan having to be discharged on the 100th day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37775/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Health insurance in Ireland is provided according to four principles: open enrolment, lifetime cover, minimum benefit and community rating. Minimum benefit means that all health insurance contracts must provide a certain minimum level of cover for inpatient hospital treatment. This approach is designed to be equitable and fair by ensuring that all consumers obtain an appropriate minimum level of health insurance cover regardless of what plan they purchase.

The Health Insurance Act, 1994 (Minimum Benefit) Regulations 1996 require insurers to offer a minimum benefit to customers in every insurance policy. Regulation 5(3) of the 1996 Regulations provides that health insurers are required to pay for a minimum of 100 days in-patient treatment in a calendar year for an insured person in respect of any psychiatric condition (except for those set out in Regulation 5(4)). Regulation 5(4) reduces that period to 91 days in-patient treatment in 5 years for treatment for alcoholism, drug or other substance abuse. The in-patient services in respect of psychiatric disorders can be provided as a private patient in a publicly funded hospital or in a private psychiatric hospital.

A health insurer is free to provide additional benefits outside of the minimum benefits. This is done on the basis of commercial decision-making and I do not have a role in the commercial decision making of any private health insurer. Customers should check with an insurance company in advance of purchasing a policy to ensure that it meets their needs and requirements.