Data relating to the Private Health Insurance Market for the period 2001-2004 shows that there has been a continuous increase in the number of persons covered by private health insurance.
Year
|
Total Insured Persons
|
PHI Coverage as a % of Population
|
Total Premium Income
|
|
(000)
|
%
|
€000
|
2001
|
1,871
|
48.5
|
Not Available
|
2002
|
1,941
|
49.4
|
821,951
|
2003
|
1,999
|
49.8
|
978,165
|
2004
|
2,054
|
50.4
|
1,061,000
|
The estimated Total Premium Income figure for 2005 is approximately €1.153bn. Also, in a Market Review of the Private Health Insurance Market in Ireland published in September 2005, the Health Insurance Authority found on-going support for availing of private health insurance cover. The Market Review also found that most consumers appeared to be happy with all aspects of their private health insurance plan and choice of insurer and that despite a series of premium increases, the majority of consumers still felt that private health insurance was good value for money. I am satisfied therefore that private health insurance consumers are satisfied that they are getting value for money from their health insurers and that no sudden decrease in the revenues of the private health insurers will occur.