May-06-2014 in Healthcare Law, Property
On 1 April 2014 the Government published a White Paper on its proposed Universal Health Insurance policy. The White Paper states that access to health services will be based on need and not ability to pay. The Minister for Health, James Reilly, said the aim of Universal Health Insurance was to bring to an end the existing unfair, unequal and inefficient two tier health system. A public consultation will now get underway and is due to last until the 28 May 2014.
The objective is to ensure that everyone accessing the health service will be treated the same irrespective of means. All will still pay for a health insurance policy but people who cannot afford the policy may be eligible to have their policy subsidised by the taxpayer. Everyone will be charged the same premium for the standard package, regardless of age or health. At this stage it is unclear what services will be included. However, it is likely to include universal primary care, including core GP and Community Nurse Services, maternity and infant care scheme, acute hospital care, including all in-patient, day case and outpatient care.
The proposal is coming under criticism given its likely cost. Furthermore, critics state that supplementary insurance will be required by individuals to preserve benefits, which will not be under the Universal Health Insurance Scheme. The supplementary insurance would be provided on a risk related basis rather than on a community rated basis, making it expensive for the elderly.
The Government’s policy of Universal Health Care is being introduced on a phased basis. The current Government policy, Future Health, is seeking to ensure that the population of the Republic of Ireland will have free GP care at the point of access. The free provision of GP services for children under the age of 6 years represents the first phase in the Government’s Future Healthpolicy and it is due to commence in mid-2014. Free GP care is due to be phased in for everyone by 2016. The system of Universal Health insurance is expected to be in place by 2019.
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