asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the decision of VHI to fund persons wishing to attend exclusive private hospitals; if he considers it appropriate that VHI should be involved with these hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - VHI Cover.
12.
I have made it abundantly clear in recent months that I would not sanction any arrangement under which VHI subscribers generally were required to subsidise persons who wished to avail of the recently developed high-cost private hospitals.
I, therefore, required the VHI Board to introduce a separate, entirely optional scheme, under which persons who wish to obtain insurance cover for these hospitals pay the full cost of providing it.