Cost issues could derail universal health plan

Cabinet tensions over the costs involved in introducing universal health insurance have added to uncertainty over the flagship government policy.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore tried to play down talk of a Coalition rift over the initiative which has already been delayed until the end of the decade.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton raised concern over the extra tax burden the move could put on families.

“Can we actually see the cost of this? There is an agreement to move towards universal health insurance by about 2019.

“If you go to Holland and you talk to people about the cost of their system, it is expensive and it does concern them,” Ms Burton told RTÉ.

The introduction of universal health insurance has proved tricky for the Government with little progress made since coming to power as the move was beset by delays and changes of direction.

Universal health insurance would abolish the current two-tier health system and see everyone pay into one scheme.

Both government parties fought the last election on a platform of major health reform, with Fine Gael favouring the Dutch model of insurance.

However, the issue has proved particularly difficult for Health Minister James Reilly, and the Department of Finance has expressed reservations about how such a scheme would operate and be conducted.

Mr Gilmore said the cost of the scheme was a major issue for the Government.

“Well the question of cost and affordability is always going to be a central concern for any issue like this.

“What the Government wants to see is a universal health insurance system that will ensure people get treatment on the basis of need, and we want to see a universal health insurance system that is affordable for families,” the Tánaiste said.

“Our ultimate objective is a better health service for the people of this country. It is a big shift in the way in which health services will be delivered and the stage we are now entering into is the public consultation phase about that,” he said.

Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesperson Michael McGrath said the Government was sending out confused messages regarding universal health insurance.

The issue has caused problems in the Coalition with Labour uneasy about how the matter is being handled.

The party was successful in getting its aim of free GP care for children under six through the last budget and does not want to risk a delay in its introduction due to a wider rift of the general universal health insurance policy.