Health insurance premiums to rise 30%, council warns

The Irish Health Insurance Council is warning that the government's proposed new public bed charge will lead to an increase of over 30% in health insurance premiums.

In a submission to government, the council says a price increase of this magnitude would force large numbers out of the health insurance market, leaving just over one third of the population insured by 2015.

The council - which includes the state's four main insurers - says any rise would force a further 300,000 out of health insurance.