Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2018
272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the levy on health insurance for elderly persons (details supplied) is a once-off payment upon joining a scheme or is a yearly payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLifetime Community Rating, which came into operation on 1 May 2015, is designed to encourage people to join the private health insurance market at younger ages. This supports affordable community-rated premiums for everyone who wishes to purchase health insurance. Since May 2015, ‘late entry loadings’ apply for those aged 35 and over who purchased health insurance for the first time. The loadings are set at 2% per year starting at age 35, up to a maximum loading of 70% at age 69 and over. These loadings are not a once-off payment and originally applied for each year that the customer held health insurance. The Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2017 introduced a cap on loadings so that loadings now apply for a maximum period of 10 years. There are also exemptions available for people who previously had health insurance but cancelled it. In such cases, the level of loading will then be reduced by the relevant credited period(s). More information on this and other health insurance related matters are available on the Health Insurance Authority's website www.hia.ie.
