Private health cover enters ‘uncharted waters’

HOSPITAL consultants aligned to the VHI would have to work free for a year and treat approximately 700,000 patients, if the insurer was to absorb the additional costs it faces under proposals contained in the budget, VHI said yesterday.

The government plans include:

* A further increase in the charges for private beds in public hospitals — these charges were already hiked by 21% in January by former health minister Mary Harney, as was the health insurance levy, which was hiked by 11%, and now costs €205 per adult and €66 per child.