Less than half of population pays for health insurance as average cost jumps 10.6%

Premiums rise but level of cover is reducing, says Health Insurance Authority 

HIA chiar Patricia Byron with HIA chief executive Brian Lee. Average health insurance premiums rose 10.6% despite the overall level of cover reducing across most plans, a new report shows.

Average health insurance premiums rose by almost 11% despite the overall level of cover reducing across most plans, according to a report by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA).

Less than half of the population pays for health insurance, the HIA Annual Market Report shows. It found 2.55m people in Ireland - around 46% of the population - held private health insurance at the end of 2025, an increase of 1.2% on the previous year. Average premiums increased 10.6% over the year.