BUPA ruling could change insurance sector

A EUROPEAN Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling this morning could have significant implications for the private health insurance market in Ireland.

The Government and health insurance companies will await the judgment of the Luxembourg-based court to a challenge brought by BUPA against the state’s risk equalisation scheme.

BUPA has asked the ECJ to annul a decision of the European Commission in 2003 that ruled in favour of the Government’s risk equalisation scheme for private health insurance.