Private health cover set to rise again

The cost of private health insurance could rise yet again if insurance companies force private hospital consultants to pay an extra 42% in premiums to protect against medical negligence claims.

Such an enormous increase in medical indemnity fees would have to be passed on to patients through higher fees, which would in turn lead to increased health insurance premiums.

And with more than 40% of all non-emergency operations carried out privately here each year, such a move could see the private health system come under even more pressure as consultants choose to work abroad or in the public sector and even more consumers ditch their health insurance cover.