The number of people with health insurance continues to grow, with increasing numbers buying private health cover for the first time. Some 2.44 million people paid for health insurance last year, up almost 80,000 on the previous year, according to the sector’s regulator, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA). The growing popularity of health insurance comes despite the three main providers – VHI, Laya and Irish Life Health – each announcing two premium price hikes this year. The number with health insurance cover now corresponds to 47.6pc of the population, according to the HIA’s annual report for last year. Total claims paid by insurers in 2022 have exceeded claims paid in 2019, before the pandemic, at €2.25bn for the first time since Covid-19 impacted claims on health insurance.

Source: Irish Independent October 09, 2023 14:54 UTC