A chara, – I believe the Coalition plan for universal health insurance (UHI) is a confidence trick. I feel that Irish people are slowly realising this too. The reality will be yet another bitter pill for hard-pressed Irish taxpayers.
The current cohort of privately insured individuals in Ireland has reduced in the last five years by about 40,000 per year to the current level of 44 per cent of the population.
This is purely because people can no longer afford to pay for their health insurance.
The other 56 per cent depends upon a dysfunctional and underfunded public system to supply the current “basket” of services.
The Government would have us believe that by donating €1,600 from our dwindling pay packets we will buy a fit for purpose, safe health system for all. This €1,600 will pay for access to a standard “basket “of services but if any extra services are needed then top-up payments to the basic charge will apply.
So, we will move from a two-tier system, where 44 per cent pay a large amount to circumvent the HSE-run public system, to a new two-tier system, where 44 per cent pay a similar amount to avail of what essentially is currently supplied by the HSE.
They will then have to pay even more to escape the inevitable chaos that will ensue.
Therefore with UHI (Irish -style) we will have the same two-tier system, except that the wallet of the tax-paying mortgage holder will be another €1,600 lighter. – Is mise,
Dr DÓNAL PUNCH,
Secretary,
National Association
of General Practitioners ,
Mayfield Family Practice,
Mayfield, Cork.