Brendan Griffin
Question:1127. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47451/23]
View answerTuesday, 7 November 2023
Questions (1127)
Written answers
The Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly T.D., thanks for the Deputy for their question.
The Minister is precluded, under section 6 of the HSE Governance Act, from directing the HSE to provide a personal service to any individual and therefore it is not possible for the Minister to get involved in individual cases.
Ireland has a voluntary private health insurance market which operates under the principles of community rating (including lifetime community rating), open enrolment, lifetime cover and minimum benefits. The Minister for Health regulates the Private Health Insurance Market in Ireland. The Health Insurance Act 1994 (Minimum Benefit) Regulations 1996 require insurers to offer a minimum level of cover to every insured person.
The Minister does not have a role in the commercial decision-making of any private health insurer. Private Health Insurance companies, including the Vhi, operate as commercial entities in a competitive private health insurance market. Beyond prescribing under the Regulations the minimum level of coverage that health insurers must provide, the Minister is not in a position to direct any insurer to provide cover for any particular procedure or service, or direct how that cover is to be provided.
The Minister recommends that individuals seeking to utilize their health insurance, check with the relevant insurance company in advance of using a service. This is to ensure that their policy provides sufficient cover prior to using a service in case they are not covered.