BUPA moves to block health cover scheme

HEALTH insurer BUPA has taken legal action to block Government plans to introduce a scheme which could lead to cheaper premiums for everyone with private health cover.

The injunction was sought in the immediate aftermath of a Government decision that would force BUPA to pay a multimillion euro annual subsidy to competitors VHI from January 1.

BUPA claims this would make its Irish business unviable because it would have to transfer funds estimated at more than twice its annual profits to the VHI.