Sir, - The current row over community rating in relation to medical insurance schemes seems to me to be unfounded. It was clear for some time that BUPA was going to enter the marketplace and so threaten the monopoly enjoyed by the VHI.
As a member of VHI for several years I investigated the levels of cover and pricing of such being offered by BUPA and found that their product, in my opinion, offered greater levels of cover for a more competitive price. They offer full medical cover without the risk of additional billing for medical procedures. They also offer cover for heart complaints treatable in the Mater and Blackrock private hospitals.
The cash plans which are age related seem to me to be purely associated with accommodation choices for medical treatment and they do effect the medical treatment per se. This is acceptable to me and in my view is similar to the Plans A, B, C, D, E on offer from the VHI. They used to have a separate units plan to cover medical treatment where one could purchase insurance to cover professional fees and accommodation cover in the form of Plans A, B and C. The degree of insurance was optional.
The plans now offered by VHI have dispensed with units and medical insurance is the same for all of their current plans. The A, B, C, D and E plans are more related to levels of accommodation and are optional to the subscriber. They also vary in price as do the cash plans of BUPA. The core element of medical insurance is surely to provide subscribers with cover for the fullest possible medical care for any illness or treatment they require.
BUPA appears to do this on a community related basis and with higher levels of cover than the VHI can currently offer. Accommodation is a matter of choice for such treatment, and I personally seek better medical protection from my health insurer. - Yours, etc.,
1 Phoenix Drive,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.