Patients group condemns health insurance increases

DRAMATIC increases in health insurance costs of up to six times the current rate of inflation have been condemned by a patients’ campaign group.

Irish Patients Association spokesperson, Stephen McMahon, said the price increases when taken against the current inflation rate of 4% and the present economic climate had to be seen as a major cause of concern.

He warned that with so many people losing their jobs and not getting cost of living increases, there was a risk that many would not renew their health cover and fall back on an already over-stretched public healthcare system.