BUPA row - Consumers are losers in fallout

DESPITE reports of a breakthrough in the BUPA crisis, it appears the Fermoy-based British company and the Government remain as divided as ever on the future direction of the health insurance industry.

Competition and risk equalisation remain the crux of the row which has not been resolved by yesterday’s intervention of Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin.

The Government is adhering to the line that risk equalisation must underpin community rating. Not surprisingly, the minister left the hotel by a side door rather than face 150 angry BUPA workers outside.

Adopting a Tadgh a’dá thaobh posture, local TD Ned O’Keeffe yesterday rounded on BUPA. Following his stout defence of the British company last week when he attacked VHI, this amounts to rank political hypocrisy.

Hopefully, for the sake of BUPA’s 475,000 subscribers and all those covered by other companies, this row will be resolved so the health insurance market can be opened up to genuine competition.