Trevor Sargent
Question:88 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress being made in establishing a risk equalisation fund. [30940/01]
Written Answers. - Risk Equalisation Fund.
Arrangements for risk equalisation are governed by the Health Insurance Act, 1994, as amended by the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2001. This legislative framework provides that the Minister may prescribe a risk equalisation scheme and such a scheme is being drafted at present. It is hoped that it will be possible to bring the scheme forward for the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas early in the new year. The details of the scheme will include provision for the establishment of a risk equalisation fund.
As regards the matter of when a risk equalisation fund will be established, in accordance with the provisions of the amending Act, the Health Insurance Authority will have significant discretion in relation to determining when risk equalisation should commence.