Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1858. To ask the Minister for Health if she will intervene to ensure those with prostate cancer and who have private health insurance, such as in the case of a person (details suppled), can avail of a high intensity focal ultrasound as part of their coverage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12501/25]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1859. To ask the Minister for Health if she will intervene to ensure those with prostate cancer and who have private health insurance, such as a person (details suppled), can avail of a high intensity focal ultrasound as part of their coverage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12503/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1858 and 1859 together.

Ireland operates a voluntary, community rated private health insurance market, meaning that individuals can choose whether or not to purchase private health insurance, and all policyholders pay the same premium for a given level of cover, regardless of their age, gender or health status.

A key feature of this system is minimum benefit, whereby insurers are required, under the Health Insurance Act 1994 (Minimum Benefit) Regulations 1996, to offer a minimum level of cover in every insurance policy. However, private health insurers have discretion over the specific treatments and procedures they choose to cover, provided they meet these minimum requirements.

I have no role in the commercial decisions of private health insurers, including decisions regarding the coverage of specific treatments such as high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for prostate cancer.

If an individual is dissatisfied with their insurer’s decision regarding coverage, they can avail of their insurer’s internal complaints process. If they remain dissatisfied with the outcome, they may escalate their complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO), which provides an independent dispute resolution service for consumers and financial service providers, including private health insurers.