asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended that, when the Government scheme for voluntary health insurance is in operation, existing commercial health insurance schemes will be permitted to continue in operation, where terms equal to or better than those offered by the Government scheme are made available under such schemes.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Voluntary Health Insurance.
The proposed scheme of voluntary health insurance will be made available by the Voluntary Health Insurance Act, 1957.
It was made clear by my predecessor, during the debates on the Act, that commercial insurance schemes would not be allowed to compete with the scheme to be provided by the board. This principle met with general acceptance and it is my intention to adhere to it.