Health insurance levy could cost sector four times more

Health Minister James Reilly’s new health insurance levy could cost the sector up to four times more than was initially claimed.

Senior officials in VHI, Glo Health, Laya Healthcare, and Aviva Health issued the warnings in separate statements to the Oireachtas health committee — claiming the hike is pushing the sector “to the brink of collapse”.

Under plans announced in last month’s budget, the Department of Health is to impose a fresh health insurance levy on the market next year.