The chairman of the Health Insurance Authority has said Irish health insurance consumers do not appear to know enough about their options to benefit from an open market.
Professor Alastair Wood was launching a national survey of consumer attitudes to private health insurance.
The survey found that consumer behaviour in the health insurance marker is 'highly conservative' with only a fraction of people switching between providers.
It also found that many people informed themselves about their cover and options only when they were making a claim.
The survey found that benefits consumers would most like to see improved or included were specialist items, such as dental or optical benefits, or improved GP cover.
It found that 47% of people had private health insurance, with social class an important factor. 70% of ABC1s had such cover, but only 31% of C2DEs. 82% of those with insurance were with VHI, 13% with BUPA and 5% with others
