VHI to pay €100m to HSE by end of the year

VHI will hand over €100m to the health service by the end of this month as part of a new Government deal to fast-track the repayment of fees to hospitals looking after private patients.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed talks around the plan are in their final stages after revealing taxpayers are losing out on as a much as €315m every year because of insurers’ failure to return funds in a timely fashion.

As part of the current health service system, private patients can be treated in public hospitals depending on the procedures required, and if they are more convenient for the patient than private hospital alternatives.