Reilly to take firmer tone

HEALTH Minister James Reilly intends telling VHI “in much firmer tones” of his concern about cost control measures being taken by the state-owned insurer.

VHI chief executive Jimmy Tolan has said that while last year’s performance was an improvement, underwriting losses hit €25 million.

Mr Tolan refused to rule out further premium hikes for the insurer’s 1.3m customers when he spoke at the launch of VHI’s annual results on Thursday, but said they would be unlikely to be of the scale announced earlier this week.

The minister said he intended to introduce legislation on risk equalisation to compensate insurers who have older members on their books by the year end.