Vol. 538 No. 5
128 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the Health Insurance Amendment Bill, 2001; the likely outcome of the Bill for private health insurance companies; if community rating will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18460/01]
The Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2000, passed by Dáil Éireann on 31 May 2001 has now completed its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas, having been passed by Seanad Éireann yesterday, 20 June 2001. It is intended that regulations to be introduced on foot of the Bill, covering open enrolment, lifetime cover, minimum benefit and risk equalisation, will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas for affirmation as soon as possible and I would hope to be in a position to do so during the autumn.
The amended legislation will make further provision regarding risk equalisation, enable insurers to apply lifetime community rating and extend open enrolment entitlement to persons aged 65 and over. The proposed changes in relation to risk equalisation are aimed at facilitating further competition, while ensuring that the stability of the market is maintained and that community rating applies across the market. I am satisfied that they will have a fair and balanced impact on insurers and are in the best interests of the insured population.
