A local city councillor has warned that the massive hike in VHI premiums will result in more people reducing or dropping their private health insurance which will put additional pressure on the already overburdened public healthcare system.
Labour politician Cllr Billy Cameron made his comments in the wake of VHI’s recent controversial decision to hike premium levels by up to 45 per cent in some instances.
Slamming Ireland’s private health insurance system as “dysfunctional”, he is calling for a new approach to the issue.
The Newcastle public representative said the increase in VHI premiums was a major concern which would place huge financial pressure on households which can ill-afford it.
“For years we have had to suffer the consequences of a dysfunctional healthcare system and now it seems we have an increasingly dysfunctional health insurance system.
“These increases will lead to situations where many policy holders will reduce or drop their health cover placing yet more pressure on the public health system.”
He said his party has been making the case for universal health insurance for almost a decade.
“Our health policy is a product of our core principle: that something as vital to human life, and human dignity, as healthcare, should be equally available to each member of our community on the basis of medical need, not income.
“The current system is not only inequitable but it is also hugely inefficient and works neither for those who have health insurance, nor for those who do not. It is clear that a complete change is needed sooner rather than later. The Labour Party will be announcing details of our own proposals in this regard in the coming weeks.”
