Claims on health insurance plans are down 29pc in the past year. (Stock image)THERE has been a sharp drop in the number of claims made on health insurance plans due to the pandemic restrictions. An additional 38,000 people took out a health insurance plan in the last year. Insurance companies last year refunded €415m to customers to compensate for reduction in access to private health facilities. Health insurance broker Dermot Goode said the pandemic has prompted thousands of people to take out private health insurance over fears they will not get treated in public hospitals due to surging waiting lists.

Source: Irish Independent May 17, 2021 10:41 UTC