Insurance Coverage

Thursday, 27 June 2024

Ceisteanna (237)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

237. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the Health Insurance Authority facilitates comparisons between valid, existing, to be discontinued and other available policies on its website, where the website currently only presents comparisons between policies which may be purchased and does not provide a comparison tool against a customer’s existing policy where that policy is to be retired, in order to ensure full transparency for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27647/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market. It provides a free online comparison tool on their website, available at: www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/which allows health insurance customers to assess what plans are currently active across all health insurers in the market.

The website comparison tool only displays plans that are currently for sale on the market. Plans that are visible on the tool currently must be available to purchase by any person wishing to do so. If a consumer wishes to access information about any retired plans, they can contact the HIA via email, at info@hia.ie. They can also contact their consumer helpline on 0818 929 166 to speak directly to a consumer information officer.