The Quinn Group, which took over Bupa Ireland last week, said today it is prepared to accept transfer of VHI customers so all players in the health insurance sector can compete on a level playing pitch.
The VHI has been objecting to the Quinn Group's insistence that, as it is a new entrant to the market, its first three years in business should be free of payments to the state-owned company to compensate it for its older customer base.
The Quinn group said today community rating - which means that everyone pays the same regardless of age - is in place in the health insurance market, and will remain so.
Speaking on RTE radio this evening CEO of the VHI, Vincent Sheridan, said that after a year-long investigation the Minister for Health, and after a ten week review a High Court judge, both agreed a community rating system needs to be supported by risk equalisation.
He also said that some time ago the Health Insurance Authority maintained if we are going to have community rating, we need also to have a system of risk equalisation.
