Over-35 health cover penalty plan ‘will fall short’

Health insurance reforms designed to get more people to sign up for private health cover and to do so at an earlier age may fall short of expectations.

Experts have warned that changes next May that will see insurers charge people more for joining at the age of 35 plus will not address the fact that most people cannot afford health insurance, regardless of their age.

Charles Normand, professor of health policy at Trinity College Dublin, said: “I think there will be some young people who join, but not a huge rush, simply because they are under such financial pressure.