Health insurance change 'will cost 1.2 million adults €100 a year'

Up to 1.2 million Irish adults are facing a €100 increase in their health insurance plans, according to the Chief Executive of Insurance Ireland.

Kevin Thompson, who was commenting on the Finance Minister Michael Noonan's changes to tax relief on health insurance, says he supports the Government's plans to get the economy back on track.

However, Mr Thompson said that the adjustment to tax relief on insurance "doesn't make sense".

He said it will affect almost all of the country's policy holders.

Mr Thompson said: "When you consider that the average adult health insurance premium is €1,500 per annum, per adult.

"Tax relief has been capped at €1,000, that equates to an extra €100 per annum per adult premium.

"Generally, we have two million people covered by health insurance within the State, 1.4 million of those are adults, of which 90% will be affected, ie 1.2 million adults."