Hike in health insurance as private bed costs increase

PRIVATE health insurance is expected to increase after Health Minister Mary Harney confirmed last night that private bed charges in public hospitals are to rise by 21%.

Ms Harney said it was estimated that the recovery of the full economic cost for private treatment in public hospitals would involve an increase of €93 million.

She said the 2011 increase would recover an additional €75m and the balance, approximately €18m, would be recovered in 2012.