Vol. 540 No. 3
181 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the demand from some health insurers for risk equalisation in the market; if this principle has been included in recent legislation; if he plans to implement the principle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20800/01]
Representations concerning the necessity for immediate recourse to risk equalisation in our community-rated voluntary health insurance market have been received from VHI, while contrary representations have also been received from BUPA (Ireland). These representations were made in the context of the passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2000.
I, as my record on the passage of the Bill shows, fully recognise the need to provide for effective risk equalisation in a voluntary health insurance system operated on the principles of community rating and open enrolment. The debate on the Bill, at a number of stages, included consideration of amendments which would have significantly impinged upon arrangements for risk equalisation provided for in the Bill and I was not willing to accept such amendments. As the Bill completed its passage on 20 June, it is intended that the related regulations for a risk equalisation scheme will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas for affirmation as soon as possible and I would hope to be in a position to do so during the autumn.
