Politics

Over-30s may face health insurance levy

Department of Health report wants levy on over-30s taking out health insurance for first time

The report says the move would encourage people to take up insurance at a younger age, and would be in line with the idea of “lifetime community rating”.
The report says the move would encourage people to take up insurance at a younger age, and would be in line with the idea of “lifetime community rating”.
Fiach Kelly
Fri Dec 27 2013 - 01:01


Anyone over the age of 30 should pay a financial penalty when they take out health insurance for the first time, a Department of Health report has recommended.

The report says the move would encourage people to take up insurance at a younger age, and would be in line with the idea of “lifetime community rating”.

Minister for Health Dr James Reilly had already indicated he would introduce such a scheme and the report, commissioned by Dr Reilly, says he should consider measures to get younger people into the health insurance market.

It also says the Minister should “discourage by means of a financial penalty, people who take out health insurance for the first time after age 30. This would be in line with the principles of lifetime community ratings.”

READ MORE

The move would be designed to stop the flow of younger people out of the health insurance market.

The Irish private health insurance market is based on the principles of community rating, where everyone pays the same for identical products regardless of age.