Survey: Job losses leading to health insurance drop

People are for the first time quoting job losses as a reason for cancelling their health insurance policies.

According to a survey by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA), the numbers of people choosing not to renew their policies has increased from 6.5% to 7.5% since 2007.

The survey also found that the numbers switching between health insurance providers has increased as they search for greater affordability during the recession.

Chief executive of the HIA Liam Sloyan said consumers are becoming more price aware.

"When we did the survey in 2007, 10% of the insured population had indicated that they had switched policy or switched insurance provider at some point," he said.

"That figure increased to 16%.

"It's interesting that it took 10 years to get from 0-10% - 10 years of competition in Ireland - and then only two years to get up to 10."