Vol. 568 No. 3
88 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 125 of 12 April 2001 and 441 of 6 November 2001, if regulations have been made to enable persons aged 65 or over, who decided they wish to avail of private health insurance cover the first time, or wish to review cover after a material break in previous cover to do so; if not, when such regulations will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16354/03]
In my reply of 6 November, 2001, I informed the Deputy that priority was being given to regulatory arrangements for a risk equalisation scheme and that regulations for lifetime community rating, to provide access to voluntary health insurance by persons over 65 years of age taking out cover for the first time, could then follow.
Risk equalisation is a necessary support to sustaining community rating across the insured population and a draft scheme is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval. The preparation of this scheme has involved a complex body of work, including deliberations at EU Commission level. Once the fundamental matter of providing for risk equalisation in order to sustain community rating has been resolved, my Department will be in a position to address proposals for lifetime community rating.
