Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013
639. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the membership of the consultative forum on health insurance; the number of times the group has met; the areas of work in which they have engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25268/13]
View answerIn February 2012, I established the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance which comprises representatives from the country's main health insurance companies, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) and the Department of Health. This Forum has been established with a view to generating ideas which would help address health insurance costs. Its core focus has been on identifying ways of addressing costs throughout the industry, while always respecting the requirements of competition law. The Forum will also give a voice to the insurers in the development of the new Universal Health Insurance model (UHI). The future delivery of health services under UHI will require competing insurance companies driving efficient, cost effective delivery of high quality health care.
The Forum met five times during 2012. In addition, bilateral meetings took place with each insurer (i.e. Quinn Healthcare (now known as Laya), Aviva and VHI) in March 2012 where they brought forward their own ideas for cost savings in the market. Following its entry on to the Irish market, GloHealth accepted an invitation to join the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance in August 2012. The Forum has met twice so far in 2013, on 31st January and 28th March, and it is intended that a number of issues will be considered during the course of this year, including:
- costs and affordability in the context of a sustainable market
- data-sharing
- the establishment of a Subgroup to consider regulatory issues relevant to the health insurance market, and
- measures to encourage greater participation of younger, healthier people in the market.
In addition to the ongoing work of the Forum, a Subgroup of the Consultative Forum was established earlier this year to consider regulatory issues relevant to the health insurance market. The third meeting of this Subgroup, with membership comprising two representatives from each insurer and representation from the HIA and my Department, took place earlier this month. The Subgroup provides a valuable opportunity for insurers to contribute views and proposals on initiatives which could assist the sustainability of the private health insurance market, such as lifetime community rating and the possible introduction of a standard plan or core set of benefits to the health insurance market. Further work will be undertaken by the Subgroup over the coming months to further consider the merits and viability of such proposals, with a view to overseeing the sustainability of the private health insurance market in the transition to a UHI system.
It is envisaged that the Consultative Forum will continue to provide a useful platform for continued engagement with the commercial insurers and I welcome any other measures or initiatives that insurers wish to contribute as part of the ongoing work of the Forum, and the Subgroup, which would be considered beneficial to maintain affordability in the private health insurance market.
