Written answers
Tuesday, 7 October 2025
Department of Health
Insurance Industry
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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652. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out an assessment of the cumulative impact of recent premium increases by private health insurers on families and older persons; and if she will publish that assessment. [53423/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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653. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement her Department has had with the Health Insurance Authority regarding multiple premium increases in 2025; and whether measures are being considered to improve affordability for policyholders. [53424/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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654. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated number of policyholders who will face annual health insurance premium increases of more than €500 following the most recent changes by providers (details supplied); and if she will provide a breakdown by insurer. [53425/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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655. To ask the Minister for Health if she will report on the trend in voluntary health insurance coverage rates since 2020; and whether recent increases in premiums risk reducing coverage among middle-income households. [53426/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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656. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being examined by her Department to protect consumers from unexpected or multiple premium hikes within a single year; and if she will consider requiring insurers to provide advance notice and transparent justification of such increases. [53427/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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657. To ask the Minister for Health if she has examined the extent to which rising private health insurance costs are leading to increased pressure on the public hospital system; and if her Department has commissioned any modelling in this regard. [53428/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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658. To ask the Minister for Health if she will outline the engagement her Department has had with the Department of Finance regarding taxation treatment of health insurance reliefs in the context of rising premiums; and whether any changes are being considered to maintain affordability. [53429/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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659. To ask the Minister for Health if she has met with representatives of providers (details supplied) in 2025 to discuss premium increases; if so, on what dates; and if she will publish the minutes of those meetings. [53430/25]
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 to 659, inclusive, together.
Built on cross-party political consensus, Sláintecare’s objective is to provide a universal health and social care system where everyone has equitable access to services based on need and not ability to pay. Sláintecare continues to progress, and the current focus is on improving access, improving service quality and building capacity. 66% (3,090) of consultants have now signed the Public Only Consultant Contract. This is a key reform aimed at creating universal, single-tier healthcare by removing private practice from our public hospitals.
The number of private in-patients and day patients in public hospitals has been dropping, particularly since the introduction of the Public Only Consultant Contract, while public activity has been increasing. In 2024 compared to 2023, there was a 7.3% drop in the number of private discharges across the acute system while public discharges increased by 7.7%.
As set out in the Health Insurance Authority’s 2025 Quarter 2 report, coverage remains high, with 2.53 million people holding private health insurance in Ireland, representing 46.3% of the population. The private health insurance market continues to grow, although at a slower rate, with an increase of 4,130 policyholders in Q2 2025.
The Government supports individuals who chose to take out voluntary private health insurance system in several ways.
As Minister for Health, I am responsible for the legal framework governing the health insurance market in Ireland. Ireland’s voluntary health insurance market operates under the principles of community rating, open enrolment, lifetime cover and minimum benefit.
Community rating means that everyone can buy the same health insurance policy at the same price, regardless of their age, gender or health status. In a risk-rated private health insurance market, older and sicker people seeking health insurance would pay much more than others.
All health insurance contracts must provide a minimum level of cover for inpatient and outpatient hospital treatment under the Health Insurance Act 1994 (Minimum Benefit) Regulations 1996. While insurers may offer additional benefits or exclude certain services or providers, they must remain compliant with these regulations to ensure equity and fairness.
Tax relief at source is available on medical or dental insurance policies under the provisions of section 470 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. In 2022, the cost of the health insurance relief to the Exchequer was €405.2 million, with 1,383,260 claims. Decisions regarding taxation matters are the responsibility of the Minister for Finance and are normally made in the context of the annual Budget.
Insurers typically set their prices based on expected claims for the coming 12 months. Premium increases are driven by a range of factors, including: the age and demographic profile of those insured, medical inflation, including the introduction of new high-tech treatments, professional and hospital fees, which are negotiated between insurers and providers and staffing costs within the private healthcare sector.
Under section 7AB of the Health Insurance Act 1994 (as amended), insurers must give at least 30 days’ notice of any changes to their plans to the Health Insurance Authority. Additionally, they are prohibited from making changes to the same plan within 60 days of the last change. It is also important to note that customers will not see a price change mid-contract. Renewal letters will include details of any price or benefit changes. Customers should check with their insurance company in advance of renewing a policy to ensure that it meets their needs and requirements.
As Minister for Health, I have no role in the commercial decision-making of private health insurers, including decisions on premium prices. These decisions are made by insurers operating within the regulatory framework overseen by the Health Insurance Authority.
The Health Insurance Authority’s functions include advising the Minster for Health in relation to health insurance. The Health Insurance Authority monitors the health insurance business and developments in relation to health insurance generally. To support consumers, the Health Insurance Authority provides a free online comparison tool that allows individuals to compare active plans in the market and prioritise coverage categories based on their needs. Consumers should also check with their insurer in advance of treatment to confirm coverage and avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
In addition, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is an independent, impartial body that investigates and resolves complaints against financial service providers, including private health insurers. The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman provides an important avenue of redress for consumers and supports confidence in the regulatory framework governing the private health insurance market.
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