Aviva increases health premiums

Aviva Health Insurance is to increase its premiums by up to 6.4 per cent from next month, the company has announced.

The insurer said premiums for a range of plans would increase by an average of 4 per cent from March 31st but that there would be no increase on many of its plans.

Aviva said it regretted the increase which it said was due to "the impact of legislative changes coupled with the rising cost of claims".

"Legislation recently approved by the Oireachtas raised the health insurance levy by up to 26.3 per cent," Aviva said in a statement.

"The cost of claims paid by Aviva increased by 29 per cent in 2012 compared to 2011. Claims costs for some treatments have seen significant increases. For example radiotherapy and chemotherapy claims have increased by 37.5 per cent, while the cost of non-surgical admissions claims have increased by 48.3 per cent.

Aviva managing director Alison Burns, said: “We are acutely aware that many customers are struggling to meet the cost of their health insurance. That is why we have minimised increases on all plans and there are no increases on many of our entry level plans.”

Aviva Health Insurance said it would directly communicate these changes to the relevant members in their renewal letters.