Penalty for abandoning health cover

People that had to abandon their health insurance could face higher premiums if they are aged 35 or over when they return to the market.

As part of efforts to increase the numbers of young people with insurance and to halt the exodus from the market, Health Minister James Reilly is to designate a “cut-off age” after which a person seeking health insurance for the first time or who is returning to the market after a break will find premiums weighted depending on their age.

Dr Reilly has yet to designate the cut-off age, but industry sources believe that 35 has been suggested in previous legislation.