Vol. 468 No. 4
135 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health whether he intends to permit foreign companies into the Irish market under the Voluntary Health Insurance scheme; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15030/96]
Limerick East): The Health Insurance Act, 1994 sets out the grounds on which insurance undertakings, whether based here or abroad, may carry out the business of health insurance in the State. The Act provides for undertakings to conduct such business, subject to compliance with provisions in the interests of the common good, which include the community rating of premia, adherence to the principles of open enrolment and lifetime cover and the provision of a specified minimum level of benefits in policies relating to in-patient, day-patient and out-patient services. Regulations pursuant to the Act were signed by me and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 March 1996. It is now essentially a commercial decision for duly authorised insurers to decide if and when to commence health insurance business here in accordance with the legal provisions applying.
