asked the Minister for Health if he will state the position under the Voluntary Health Insurance Act of schemes, such as the Hospital Saturday Fund, which have operated here for a number of years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voluntary Health Insurance Schemes.
The Voluntary Health Insurance Act, 1957, provides that, with the exception of certain schemes described in the Act, it is illegal to carry on schemes of health insurance save under licence issued by the Minister for Health. Broadly speaking, the exceptions to this provision are schemes provided by the Voluntary Health Insurance Board or by a trade union or by a society registered in the State before the passing of the Act under the Friendly Societies Acts.
Licences have been granted in respect of schemes in being before the Act became operative which provided benefits for employees of particular concerns, where membership was confined to such employees. Licences have also been granted in a limited number of cases in respect of schemes which could not be regarded as being in competition with the Voluntary Health Insurance Board's schemes; the Hospital Saturday Fund scheme to which reference is made in the question has been licensed under this head.
With the exception of the employees' schemes in operation at the date of the commencement of the Act, it is not the intention to issue licences in respect of schemes which could be regarded as in competition with the board's schemes. This is in accordance with the policy settled by my predecessor, which I am prepared to implement.