THE Government’s new levies on health insurance policies could push up some basic premiums for a family of four to almost €2,000, it has been claimed.

PRIVATE health insurance members could be hit with significant price hikes as a result of the budget’s 20% private bed charges rise after the country’s main health insurance firms refused to rule out price increases.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Government’s scheme for risk equalisation in the health insurance market should be set aside. The ruling was not that community rating — whereby people of various ages are entitled to insurance at the same rate as younger people — was unconstitutional, but that Health Minister Mary Harney had exceeded her authority under the Health Insurance Act of 1994 in how which she sought to enforce risk equalisation.

Chronically ill and older patients could suffer after private health insurer Bupa was told it does not have to compensate State competitor VHI, it was claimed today.

THE newest entry to the health insurance market claims an average family can save more than €400 a year by switching from VHI.