asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Voluntary Health Insurance Board to point out to their existing subscribers who are covered for children that it is pointless continuing cover for their children after 1st April next, in view of the fact that it is medically and socially undesirable to have children accommodated in a private room in hospital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voluntary Health Insurance Cover.
17.
I am advised that, while treatment in open or multiplebed wards may, in the case of many children, be preferable to treatment in a single-bed room, social and medical reasons in specific cases may indicate the need for a single-bed ward. This is a matter for the choice of the parents and the doctor treating the child and it would not be appropriate for me to issue an instruction on the lines suggested.
Is the Minister aware that in the majority of children's hospitals there is not private accommodation for children and, therefore, the payment of subscriptions to the Voluntary Health Insurance Board in this respect would appear to be a waste of money?
I am not aware that in most hospitals there are not private or semi-private wards——
For children.
——for children. I accept what the Deputy said that for children it would be better if they were in public wards. He will also appreciate that I could not direct the Voluntary Health Insurance Board nor the parents to cover themselves for illness in a particular way.
Would the Minister not suggest that parents may be wasting money by covering children if and when this scheme comes in, taking into account that there are no private or semi-private facilities to be availed of?
I repeat that the Voluntary Health Insurance Board have been made aware of this situation. They, with the parents, would be the best to advise. I do not think I should interfere at this stage.
Is it not unlikely——
I have given Deputy O'Malley a fair amount of latitude. We must make some progress on the other questions.
Would the Minister not agree that it is unlikely the Voluntary Health Insurance Board would advise members not to cover children as it would reduce their own premium income?
The public and consultants would be annoyed if such a direction were given.
I thought consulants would be paid the same amount under the Minister's scheme.
18.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) the total number of Voluntary Health Insurance subscribers (b) the number in group schemes and (c) the number of individual subscribers; and the total number of persons covered in each of these categories.
The total number of voluntary health insurance subscribers is 168,945. The number of group subscribers is 121,160 and the number of individual subscribers is 47,785. The total number of persons covered is 501,251, of whom 380,000 are in group schemes, and 121,251 are covered by individual subscribers.
19.
asked the Minister for Health the average number of M units and T units held by subscribers to the voluntary health insurance.
I understand from the Voluntary Health Insurance Board that the average number of M and T units held by subscribers is 15.04 and 7.34 respectively.
That being so, is it not strange that the number of units which the Voluntary Health Insurance Board are now recommending to subscribers for the period after 1st April, assuming that the proposed scheme comes in, is approximately the same as the average number of units held at the moment?
I am not aware that the Voluntary Health Insurance Board are advising what the Deputy has suggested.
The Voluntary Health Insurance Board sent a circular to its members——
The Deputy must avoid making a statement.
Is the Minister aware that the Voluntary Health Insurance Board sent a statement to members advising them that after the 1st April—this was made on the assumption that the new scheme would come in on that date—the number of maintenance units they would recommend for private or semi-private treatment was 18 and the number of treatment units was eight? These figures are higher than the average number held at the moment. Would the Minister not agree that what the Voluntary Health Insurance Board are recommending appears to be excessive?
If such a circular were sent by the Voluntary Health Insurance Board it has not been brought to my notice.
I will send the Minister a copy.