Dan Neville
Ceist:201 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will address the issue of non-availability of health insurance cover for non-medical card holders for psychological services. [26197/98]
Written Answers - Health Insurance.
Andrew Boylan
Ceist:212 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that neither VHI or BUPA cover subscribers for expenses incurred in attending a psychologist; if he will provide cover in this regard in view of his forthcoming White Paper on Health Insurance; his views on whether psychological intervention plays a valuable contribution to a person's health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25483/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 212 together.
Interventions by a wide range of health professionals, including psychologists, can make a beneficial contribution to a person's health. However, the request that health insurers should be required to provide benefit in respect of treatment by psychologists gives rise to a number of considerations relating to commercial freedom, financial capacity, customer preference, competition and appropriate legislative intervention. There are, of course, significant and obvious implications to the State intervening into the decision of private health insurance undertakings as regards what services they can and should cover in a competitive market.
My Department is currently engaged in the preparation of a White Paper on private health insurance which has involved receipt of submissions from, and discussions with, a large variety of interests. The Psychological Society of Ireland was among the bodies which presented views in connection with the preparation of the White Paper. The society's submission is receiving consideration in that context.