asked the Minister for Health if he will state (1) the estimated total number of persons in the economic group for which the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme has been established, (2) the percentage of this total who have so far applied for insurance under the scheme and (3) the percentage of the total at risk who have in fact taken out insurance cover under the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme.
The approximate total number of persons not eligible for free or subsidised services under the Health Act was estimated by the Advisory Body on Voluntary Health Insurance at 460,000. It was principally for the benefit of people in this group that the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme was established.
In the short time which has elapsed since they launched their scheme, the Voluntary Health Insurance Board have received applications covering an estimated total of about 45,000 persons or almost 10 per cent. of the figure mentioned.
Some 28,000 of these applicants have been accepted by the board and are now actually insured. The board have informed me that they expect that insurance for the great majority of the remainder will commence on or before the 1st April next.
It has been found that only about 5 per cent. of those who apply for insurance do not proceed with their application.