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The Lifetime Community Rating has placed age-related loadings on the premiums of people aged 35 plus

Surge in health insurance policy holders

The number of people with health insurance has increased by 80,000 since the start of this year.

Laya says it put additional team members in place to deal with the expected last minute rush of callers

Surge in calls ahead of health insurance deadline

Health insurance companies have reported a huge spike in calls ahead of the midnight deadline to take out private health insurance before the Lifetime Community Rating takes effect.

News • 30 Apr 15

Laya Healthcare has a 24% share of the private health insurance market

AIG completes acquisition of Laya Healthcare

Global insurance company AIG has completed its acquisition of Laya Healthcare.

Business • 01 Apr 15

People who take out private health insurance for the first time after the age of 34 will face a loading of 2% a year after 30 April

Authority moves to correct health insurance error

The Health Insurance Authority has moved to correct a mistake it made today suggesting that people covered under a health insurance policy, paid by their partner, could face loadings if their partner died.

News • 18 Mar 15

The minister wants to stabilise health insurance premiums, or at least reduce the rate of increase

Proposals on health insurance costs

An easing of the Budget 2014 cap on tax relief for private health insurance is among a range of measures expected to be considered by the Government, to try to control rising private health insurance premiums.

News • 08 Sep 14

Changes will see higher premiums for those taking up health insurance later in life

'Little incentive in health insurance changes'

A professor of health policy has said changes to health insurance signed into law yesterday by the Minister for Health will probably not provide strong enough incentives for younger people to take up health insurance.

News • 08 Jul 14

Credit will be provided for previous periods of health insurance

Age at entry to affect health insurance premium

Private health insurers are to be allowed charge a higher premium for people aged 35 years and older who join the health insurance market.

News • 08 Jul 14

Around 300,000 people have given up their private policies since 2008

IMO say Govt is misleading public over insurance

The Irish Medical Organisation has accused the Government of misleading the public by describing their proposed health insurance reforms as a type of universal health care.

News • 04 Jun 14

Last year the four main insurers paid out €1.7bn in claims, a drop of 4%

Further drop in number with health insurance

Latest figures from the Health Insurance Authority show that 21,000 people dropped their inpatient health insurance during the first three months of this year.

News • 03 Jun 14

The plans are aimed at stemming the exodus of younger people from the health insurance market

Reilly seeks to boost numbers with health cover

New measures to incentivise young people to take out health insurance will be introduced from next year.

News • 27 Apr 14

Aviva said the Government needs to work with the industry to keep young people in the market

Aviva health cover fees rising by average of 12.7%

Aviva Health insurance is to increase premiums by an average of 12.7% across a range of plans, with some plans increasing by over 20%.

News • 19 Feb 14

James Reilly commended the Vhi for keeping its increase low

Reilly criticises Laya and GloHealth price hikes

Minister for Health James Reilly has criticised plans by Laya Healthcare and GloHealth to increase insurance premiums.

News • 31 Jan 14

The price increase will affect over 400,000 of Laya Healthcare's customers

Laya Healthcare raising premiums by average of 20%

Insurance companies Laya Healthcare and GloHealth have announced that they are to increase premiums from 1 March.

News • 30 Jan 14

New report seeking to cut costs of private health insurance

Report calls for new health insurance penalties

A new report on cutting the cost of private health insurance has recommended a financial penalty for people over the age of 30 who take out cover for the first time.

News • 26 Dec 13

The State was given until the end of this year to change the VHI's legal status

Decision on VHI request by end of 2012 - Almunia

EU Competition Commissioner Joaquim Almunia says the commission will make a decision before the end of the month on the Government’s request for a one-year prolongation of the unlimited state guarantee for VHI.

News • 05 Dec 13

Laya Healthcare says the Government decision to increase the levy on policies will drive up the cost of insurance for all

Health insurance firms should absorb hike - Reilly

Minister for Health James Reilly has said that health insurance companies are making profits and did not have to pass on an increase in the Government health insurance levy to their younger policy holders.

News • 13 Nov 13

VHI has 56% market share of the health insurance market, but pays about 75% of claims

VHI reports surplus of €54m for 2012

Health insurance company VHI has announced a surplus after tax of €54.3m for last year.

Business • 26 Jun 13

VHI said it needs a capital injection and an effective risk equalisation scheme

VHI reports surplus, but loss in health insurance

VHI Healthcare has reported a surplus of over €54m for last year, but said its private health insurance division recorded a loss of €7.2m.

News • 26 Jun 13

The IHA said independent hospitals will face closures under the proposals

Hospitals group concerned at insurance plans

The Independent Hospitals Association has said it is seriously concerned with Government proposals to charge patients with private health insurance for use of public beds in public hospitals.

News • 16 Jun 13

James Reilly questioned why procedures that now take 20 minutes still cost what they cost when they took two hours

Rising health insurance costs annoying Reilly

Minister for Health James Reilly has said he is annoyed by the cost of private health insurance and asked why insurance premiums are increasing all the time.

News • 23 May 13

Colm McCarthy said the Government's aim of having universal health insurance by 2016 was becoming more difficult

Community-rated health insurance under threat

The author of a new report on the health insurance market has said the principle of everyone paying the same regardless of their health is under threat.

News • 13 May 13

Greece has seen its first malaria outbreak in decades after budget cuts to mosquito-spraying programmes

Austerity bad for health - study

Austerity is having a devastating effect on health in Europe and North America, researchers have said.

Business • 29 Apr 13

In 2008, there were almost 2.3m people with inpatient private health insurance

Over 60,000 dropped health insurance in 2012

Around 64,000 people dropped their health insurance last year, according to latest figures from the Health Insurance Authority.

News • 04 Mar 13

There will be an increase of up to 6.4% on some plans

Aviva to increase premiums by average of 4%

The Aviva health insurance company is to increase its premiums by an average of 4% on a range of plans, with effect from 31 March.

News • 27 Feb 13

Health analyst with Cornmarket, Dermot Goode says people on old plans will be hit the hardest

Health insurance to rise in January

Health insurance policy holders will be facing sharp increases of up to 20% in January.

Business • 21 Dec 12