The chairman of the VHI, Mr Derry Hussey, said yesterday the company was expected to record a "modest surplus" for the current year because of a level of trading higher than expected.
Following a board meeting in Limerick yesterday, he said the health insurance company expected the surplus as a result of buoyant trading and a significant increase in members.
"New members are calling to join VHI at a rate of over 1,000 per week. This level of recruitment has been achieved in a year which saw VHI facing competition for the first time in its 40-year history," he said. He said the introduction of VHI's Option Plans earlier this month had resulted in an exceptional level of interest from members. The number of members signing on for the plans in the two weeks since launching is currently at 20,000.