Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
526. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with the major health insurance providers in Ireland in relation to the increasing premiums facing their customers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3020/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra527. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the actions she is taking to seek to reduce the cost of Health Insurance premiums in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3021/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra528. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby people are unable to afford health insurance premiums but feel forced to due to the length of waiting lists in public hospitals; the actions she is taking to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3022/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 526 to 528, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Health, I am responsible for the legal framework governing the health insurance market in Ireland. This is a voluntary market operating under the principles of community rating, open enrolment, lifetime cover and minimum benefit.
Community rating ensures that everyone can buy the same policy at the same price, regardless of age, gender or health status. This is enabled through the Risk Equalisation Scheme, which distributes funds in the form of credits to compensate insurers for the additional cost of insuring older and sicker members. These credits are funded by a stamp duty levy paid by health insurance providers for each policy issued. Risk Equalisation credits and associated stamp duty levies are adjusted annually and carefully calibrated to maintain community rating.
The private health insurance market operates on a competitive, commercial basis. Insurers set their premiums in line with their own commercial decisions and strategies, within the framework of the Health Insurance Act, as amended.
Premium increases are driven by factors including medical inflation (which includes the introduction of new high-tech treatments), staffing costs within the private healthcare sector, and professional and hospital fees. These fees are negotiated between insurers and providers. Other factors include claims experience, benefit changes, and operating costs. As Minister for Health, I have no role in the commercial decision-making of private health insurers, including decisions on premium prices.
The Health Insurance Authority maintains regulatory oversight of insurers and ensures compliance with community rating, open enrolment, and lifetime cover requirements, which helps to keep the health insurance market fair, accessible and sustainable for all consumers. The Authority’s functions include monitoring the health insurance market and developments in health insurance generally, and advising me in relation to these matters. The Health Insurance Authority also provides a free online comparison tool that allows individuals to compare active plans in the market and prioritise coverage categories based on their needs.
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
The multi-annual Waiting List Action Plan approach was implemented in September 2021 to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times. This approach is allowing us to progress towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
My Department is engaging with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to finalise the action plan for 2026, building on the progress delivered to date, renewing the focus on improving waiting times for patients, and considering the learnings from the challenges that arose in 2025.
