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Health Insurance Cover

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (794, 812)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

794. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the single health insurance fund will be put in place; the persons who will be covered under the new system; the services to be covered by the fund; the amount of the additional cost that is covered; if there is a forum in which private insurers may decide how to modify their plans in line with these services; if additional tax relief is planned for those still maintaining private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5283/13]

View answer

Brendan Griffin

Question:

812. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the projected timeframe and progress made in the plan to introduce universal health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5370/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 812 together.

The Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where access is based on need, not on income. Insurance will be provided under a multi-payer insurance model with no distinction between "public" and "private" patients. Under UHI, everyone will be insured and will have equal access to a standard package of primary and acute hospital services, including acute mental health services. A new Insurance Fund will subsidise or pay insurance premiums for those who qualify for a subsidy.

In moving to a system of UHI, there are a number of key stepping stones that are necessary to pave the way for the introduction of universal health insurance. Work is underway on these critical building blocks that will bring benefits and drive efficiencies in advance of implementing UHI. They include:

- the strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients;

- the work of the Special Delivery Unit in tackling waiting times and establishing hospital groups;

- the introduction of a more transparent and efficient "Money Follows the Patient" funding mechanism for hospitals, and

- reform of the private health insurance market.

The reform programme is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and sequencing over a number of years. The Programme for Government acknowledges that full implementation of UHI will take some time to achieve. Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012-2015 highlights the importance of a step-by-step evidence-based approach to achieving an effective, equitable and efficient system and sets out key actions to systematically deliver on reform. It is anticipated that by 2016 the necessary groundwork will be in place to enable us to phase in implementation of UHI, as promised in the Programme for Government.

The Department is preparing a White Paper on Universal Health Insurance which will provide further detail on the UHI model for Ireland in addition to the estimated costs and financing mechanisms associated with the introduction of universal health insurance. The work involved is both complex and technical, necessitating significant research and financial modelling to support analysis and costing of different design options. This, in turn, demands a wide-range of specialised expertise. The Department is engaged in a process to ensure the provision of this expertise to feed into work on the preparation of the White Paper during 2013. The White Paper will be published as early as possible within the Government’s term of office.

In advance of the White Paper, my Department has produced a Preliminary Paper on UHI, which I intend to publish in the near future.

Finally, the Deputy has asked about a forum in which private health insurers may engage in relation to plans on UHI. Last year, I established the Health Insurance Consultative Forum. The Forum comprises representatives from the country's main health insurance companies, the Health Insurance Authority and the Department of Health. The Forum provides a platform for identifying ways of addressing costs throughout the industry, whilst always respecting the requirements of competition law. In addition, it also gives a voice to insurers in raising issues relating to the development of the new Universal Health Insurance model.

Question No. 795 answered with Question No. 779.

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