VHI and BUPA Ireland customers who need to send their income tax certificates to the Revenue Commissioners to qualify for tax relief on their contributions are being invited to supply their RSI numbers to the companies who will then transmit the number and premium details electronically to the Revenue at the end of each tax year. The Revenue will then automatically make the correct adjustments to income tax allowances.
Customers who want to avail of this automatic service should contact their health insurer by Freepost or on their designated numbers 1850 44 44 44 for VHI, and 1890 700 890 for BUPA to register their number.
Both companies claim that the new service will ensure that customers receive their correct tax deduction each year and will reduce their own administration costs.
Meanwhile, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg found last week that EU citizens have the right to be reimbursed in their own country for medical costs incurred in another EU country, even if they have no authorisation to seek treatment abroad.
The case arose after two Luxembourg residents sought reimbursement from their national social security organisation for optical and dental care purchases they made in Belgium and Germany.
In both cases their national health agencies refused to reimburse the purchases because they had not sought prior authorisation.
The judges said the only reason for maintaining such a trade barrier would be if there was a risk of seriously undermining a national social security system.
That was not the situation in either of these cases, and both involved providing services that could not be restricted and therefore qualified for reimbursement of costs.
