Budget health insurance cap was a ‘mistake’

The Government should admit it made a mistake in changing the tax treatment of health insurance in the last Budget and reverse the move which caused thousands of families to cancel their cover, the opposition has claimed.

Fianna Fáil’s health spokesman, Billy Kelleher, was reacting to reports that the Government is considering a reversal of the tax-relief cap imposed last October.

It is one of a number of measures being considered by the Government on how to control the rising cost of health insurance.