I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 208 together.
Under the Voluntary Health Insurance Acts, 1957 to 1998, the board is required to obtain the consent of the Minister to proposed health insurance plans. To date the board has not submitted a plan of the kind referred to by the Deputies for approval under the Acts. My officials have been made aware by VHI management that, as a result of demand from corporate and individual customers, it is working on the development of an insurance plan to cover members' primary care expenses.
The Government stated in the White Paper on Private Health Insurance that the further evolution of private health insurance should include steps to promote the position of primary care in the system. The proposals regarding changes to the private health insurance framework will not impact upon the existing eligibility arrangements in place for health services which ensure that all persons have access to primary care services on the basis of need.
Where people do not qualify for a medical card under income guidelines drawn up annually by health board chief executive officers, who have statutory responsibility for the determination of eligibility, a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that a family's medical needs or other circumstances justify it. Medical cards may also be awarded to individual family members on this basis.
