86% delay medical treatment because of rising costs

Almost nine in every 10 people will deliberately delay going to a GP or hospital for medical treatment because of spiralling health insurance costs.

The situation — which insurers claim is the direct result of Health Minister Dr James Reilly’s imminent health insurance levy — was revealed in a survey commissioned by private health company Laya Healthcare.

According to the report, published on the first of a two-day National Healthcare Conference, 86% of people will avoid attending their local doctor because of the expense involved.

A further 79% will also delay any non-emergency medical procedures in hospital because they cannot afford to pay for the help.

Laya Healthcare said the findings — based on responses from 501 people and 100 medics — highlight the daily impact of spiralling health insurance costs.

However, while Dr Reilly and others will view the situation as proof that health insurers are forcing customers to pay too much for assistance, Laya Healthcare insists the Government, and not the firms, is at fault.

“The research confirms our worst fears that the price spiral affecting private health insurance will force more people to drop their cover this year,” said Laya’s managing director, Dónal Clancy. “Finding ways to incentivise people, especially the young and healthy, to take up private health cover will be critical if we are to transition successfully and seamlessly to the new universal healthcare system promised for 2016.

“The current system is unfair in that the majority of people on more basic plans are cross-subsidising those on the premium top-tier plans with all the frills.

“This is unjust and is fuelling a record market decline.”

Laya Healthcare and other health insurance firms have repeatedly called for Dr Reilly to do a U-turn on his plan to increase the Government health insurance levy to €350 per adult and €120 per child from the end of this month.

The firms have pointed to this increase for a series of double-digit percentage price rises they have all imposed on customers this year — increases which are likely to be placed under the spotlight at the conference today.

The Laya-commissioned survey also revealed that one in three families with young children are planning to ditch their private health insurance cover because of cost issues. The study found that a further 17% of families cannot afford to keep their cover.

*Further details are available at

www.nationalhealthcare.ie