Vol. 527 No. 5
77 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the case made by an organisation (details supplied) to avail of the new health insurance legislation to formalise the medical scheme of military personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28941/00]
The case has been made by an organisation to my Department that military personnel, by virtue of the arrangements under which they can obtain healthcare as part of their employment, should be considered to have private health insurance contracts.
Under the Health Insurance Act, 1994, a health insurance contract is deemed to be one which has as its sole or principal purpose the making of payments, by health benefits undertakings, specifically for the reimbursement or discharge of fees or charges in respect of hospital in-patient services or ancillary health services. The legislation requires providers of health insurance contracts to be formally registered as health benefits undertakings and obliges such undertakings to, inter alia, community rate their premiums. My Department considers that the sole or principal purpose of the existing arrangements for military personnel relates to employment and, in particular, to the capacity of personnel to fulfil their duties and responsibilities.
The Bill provides for a change in the definition of a health insurance contract which, inter alia, will ensure that, going forward, arrangements by employers to meet the healthcare costs of their employees do not develop as a threat to community rating. It was recognised, however, that certain establishment health care arrangements, such as those for military personnel, should be facilitated and should not be subject to alteration as a result of the legislation. Consequently, the Bill makes allowance for the established arrangements for the provision of health services to military personnel to continue outside the health insurance regulatory framework. I consider that the appropriate course of action is being taken under the Bill.
Question No. 78 taken with Question No. 7.
