Health insurance customers could get refunds on monthly premiums due to coronavirus, it has been confirmed.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said an announcement will be made on Thursday evening explaining the current situation for private health insurance customers.
Around 45% of people in Ireland are covered by health insurance, with the average cost per individual standing at just under €2,000 a year, Cork Beo reports.
However, under emergency arrangements, private hospitals are to act as part of the public health system.
And that effectively means that our so-called two-tier health system is now one-tier as some 2,000 private beds, nine laboratories and thousands of staff are co-opted into the public system.
Posting on social media Minister Harris said there will be an update this evening on where private health insurance customers stand and whether they should be reimbursed during this crisis.
Any refund provisions should apply to customers of all the big health insurance companies such as the VHI, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health and so on.
"A number of you contacted me about private health insurance, and are those companies going to reimburse people for the fact that all of the private health service are run by the Public Health Service and therefore should you be getting money back on your premium.
"I'm expecting they're going to make an announcement on that, so for those of you who are paying private health insurance you may get news about a potential rebate on some of your premium as well.
"A number of you contacted me about private health insurance, and are those companies going to reimburse people for the fact that all of the private health service are run by the Public Health Service and therefore should you be getting money back on your premium.
"I'm expecting they're going to make an announcement on that, so for those of you who are paying private health insurance you may get news about a potential rebate on some of your premium as well."
