Consumers spending less on health insurance over last two years

We are spending less on health insurance, with the average premium paid last year €1,173 — a 2% decline on €1,200 in 2014.

The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) has listed three reasons for the lower average spend on cover last year.

Topping the list is the introduction of low-cost private health insurance plans with a limited range of benefits in the run-up to the introduction of lifetime community rating in May 2015.