asked the Minister for Health the means his Department has for supervising the VHI as an insurance company and the way it liaises with the Department of Industry and Commerce which is responsible for supervising all other insurance companies.
Written Answers. - Voluntary Health Insurance.
88.
Under the terms of the Voluntary Health Insurance Act, 1957, all health insurance schemes offered by the Voluntary Health Insurance Board are subject to my consent as regards the scope and extent of benefits. The board are required to so fix subscriptions that, having made due allowance for reserves income shall be only sufficient to meet outgoings. The board's accounts are maintained in a form approved by me and are subject to audit by a duly qualified auditor whose appointment is also subject to my consent. These provisions give me and my Department adequate means to supervise the board's insurance activities.
Under the terms of the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 increases in premium levels are subject to the sanction of the Minister for Industry and Commerce who, however, liaises closely with me when considering any applications by the board for authority to increase premiums.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Voluntary Health Insurance Board differ from other insurance companies in that they were set up by an Act of the Oireachtas to fulfil a particular role. This role is interwoven with the structure for the delivery of health care in this country and the Minister for Health has, therefore, been regarded by the Oireachtas as the Minister appropriate to monitor their operations. Furthermore, they differ from other companies by virtue of the fact that they are a non-profit making organisation. Naturally, I liaise closely with the Minister for Industry and Commerce in any sphere which affects the insurance activities of the board.