Health insurance - Victimising people is unacceptable

THE uncertainty surrounding Ireland’s health insurance business has deepened following the European Commission decision to take action against the coalition Government over alleged abuse of VHI’s dominant position in the market.

Reflecting the current state of turmoil in the health insurance business, the impending EU action has been triggered by a complaint from VIVAS, a private health insurance company which recently entered the Irish market.

The latest development is not connected to the crisis created by BUPA’s decision to withdraw from the market, a precipitous move which has left the British company’s 470,000 Irish customers facing an uncertain future. Regrettably, they are the unwitting victims of a row over the controversial risk equalisation scheme which is now raging between BUPA, VHI, and Health Minister Mary Harney.