Vol. 566 No. 1
136 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to bring the promised draft regulations on risk equalisation within the health insurance industry before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12026/03]
My Department has prepared a draft risk equalisation scheme to be submitted for approval by each House of the Oireachtas. In advance of this, the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2003 which makes further provision relating, inter alia, to risk equalisation has recently been signed into law.
The current position is that BUPA Ireland has made a complaint to the EU Commission's Competition Directorate General about the proposed provision for risk equalisation. This has given rise to the notification, or submission, by my Department of the draft scheme to the directorate for consideration under EU state aid rules. This submission makes the case in relation to the necessity for risk equalisation in a market operated on the basis of core common good principles of community rating, open enrolment, and lifetime cover, and that it does not constitute state aid under EU competition rules. The timetable for bringing the draft scheme to the Houses of the Oireachtas will be determined in the light of the outcome of these deliberations at EU level. However, it is my intention to bring the draft scheme to the Houses for affirmation at an early date and, if possible, before the end of the current session.
