I presume the Deputy is referring to the coverage of out-patient costs by the Voluntary Health Insurance board. Under the out-patient scheme, benefits payable are subject to specific limits which were introduced so that the board's liability could be more accurately defined and controlled.
It is not the intention of the out-patient scheme to try to cover all expenses but to provide an element of benefit where insured persons have incurred large expenses in any particular year. The majority of insured benefits provided by VHI relate to in-patient treatment as this is the area where unforeseen healthcare costs, which are beyond the means of most individuals, generally arise and against which insurance protection is primarily required by consumers.
In the case of VHI's long-established plans, the excess limit for an individual contract is £250 and for a family contract £400. The VHI applies lower excess amounts in the case of its more recently introduced "Options Plans". The application of VHI rules in this regard is essentially an operational matter for VHI.