The Chief Executive of the VHI has said that there is absolutely no economic reason why BUPA would have to leave the Irish private healthcare market.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Vincent Sheridan denied that yesterday's High Court decision to implement risk-equalisation on health insurance funding was bad for Irish consumers.
The ruling means that BUPA will have to pay the State-sponsored VHI compensation because of its younger client base.
The High Court found that BUPA would incur a loss under risk equalisation.
Mr Sheridan said damage would be caused to BUPA if it chose to leave the Irish market.
He cited a report by a UK health economics firm that said if BUPA left the market it would mean that the only reason it was in the market in the first place would be to take the exceptional gains associated with a younger client base.
