20,000 families axe kids’ health insurance

More than 20,000 families have cancelled health insurance cover for their children over the past year — the equivalent of 55 cancellations a day.

Figures from independent watchdog the Health Insurance Authority show the major drop off is occurring at the same time as coverage prices continue to surge.

According to the State body, between June 2012 and June this year the number of premiums for children and teens under the age of 17 fell by a massive 20,000.