EU approves health insurance levies

The EU Commission has approved Ireland's scheme of levies and tax relief in the health insurance sector, primarily aimed at making health insurance affordable for older people by decreasing the risk differentials for health insurers between old and young customers.

The proposals, which replace the previous Risk Equalisation Scheme annulled by the Supreme Court last year, will see the Government boosting tax relief on health insurance premiums for the over-50s.