John Gormley
Ceist:273 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received representations from the VHI on risk equalisation; his response in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18888/01]
Written Answers. - Health Insurance.
Liam Aylward
Ceist:284 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the concerns (details supplied) regarding risk equalisation in the health insurance industry, including the likelihood of job losses in the market if it is not applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18981/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 284 together.
Representations concerning the necessity for immediate recourse to risk equalisation in our community-rated voluntary health insurance market have been received from the VHI. I consider it appropriate to state that contrary representations have also been received from BUPA (Ireland). These representations were made in the context of the passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2000.
I, as my record on the passage of the Bill shows, fully recognise the need to provide for effective risk equalisation in a voluntary health insurance system operated on the principles of community rating and open enrolment. The debate on the Bill, at a number of stages, included consideration of amendments which, in my view, would have significantly impinged upon arrangements for risk equalisation and I was not willing to accept such amendments.
As the Bill completed its passage on 20 June, it is intended that the related regulations for a risk equalisation scheme will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas for affirmation as soon as possible and I hope to be in a position to do so during the autumn. The proposed regulations, as provided for in the Bill, will be aimed at facilitating competition while ensuring that stability in the market is maintained and that community rating applies across the market.