VHI hike deprives thousands of cover
Many people in the 60-70 age group will forego health insurance when it comes up for renewal next September.
The 18% price increase raises the price of VHI’s popular Plan B from 364 to 430. Family rates have soared from 995 to 1,174.
The group representing elderly people here, Age Action Ireland (AAI), has criticised the scale of the increase. Spokesperson Paul Murray said, “We knew that an increase was on the way but the extent of it has really shocked us.” AAI is particularly worried about people in the 60 to 70 category who are not eligible to get a medical card. “Many of these people are on fixed incomes that are not increasing with the cost of living. We know that thousands of them just won’t have the money to pay the new charges,” said Mr Murray.
The organisation said elderly patients with medical conditions like arthritis, were being placed on long public waiting lists before they were treated. “These illnesses need to be treated regularly, and when someone goes on a public waiting list, that becomes a lot more difficult,” Mr Murray said.
The lobby group Patient Focus said the elderly were the people most in need of private healthcare.
The group’s chairperson Sheila O'Connor said: “It’s unfortunate that people who need to use the health system regularly often find it difficult to afford.” The group believes that Health Minister Micheál Martin could have vetoed the state-owned VHI’s request for an 18% premium increase: “The costs charged by consultants are rising. No one seems to ask is all this extra investment in the system necessary. Often people, and especially senior citizens, undergo some expensive procedures and no one asks was there a cheaper and more effective way of treating the patient.”
The VHI has 1.54 million customers nationwide. Their plan B health package allows for full cover for a private room in a public hospital and a semi-private room in a private hospital.
Everyone is entitled to a medical card when they reach 70 but many continue to retain their VHI cover, because they don’t have confidence in the public health system, said Ms O’Connor.
