Two possible new entrants to health insurance market

TWO potential entrants have expressed strong interest in joining the Irish health insurance market, the regulatory body which oversees the industry confirmed yesterday.

The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) told the Oireachtas committee on health that it had held discussions with two new entities who may enter the market.

At present, there are three companies offering private health insurance in Ireland. They are the State-owned VHI Healthcare, Bupa Ireland and VIVAS, which entered the market in 2004.