When health insurance 'runs out'

Sir, – Prof Des O’Neill’s Second Opinion column (Health + Family, February 26th) makes alarming reading for any older person…

Sir, – Prof Des O’Neill’s Second Opinion column (Health + Family, February 26th) makes alarming reading for any older person with private health insurance who may need a prolonged period of hospitalisation or indeed anyone who intends growing older in Ireland.

As a charity which works to protect the rights of older people, we occasionally come across anecdotal evidence of older people being told their health insurance cover has “run out” during their stay in hospital. Despite having paid health insurance premiums for decades, they are transferred from a private to a public bed. In doing so, they lose the benefits of their private insurance and end up using a bed paid for by the taxpayer (and the taxes the older person paid during their working life).

Prof O’Neill warns this practice is increasing. It is therefore essential the public sit up and become aware of what is happening. Who is deciding how and where patients should be treated – the doctors, the hospital management or the private health insurer? Who is looking after the best interests of the patient and are they receiving the full benefit of the insurance cover they have paid for?

If and when the Government’s promised universal health insurance is introduced for hospital care, it can be presumed this practice will end.

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However, it could be many years before that happens. In the meantime, what happens to older patients? Prof O’Neill should be thanked for making this issue public. – Yours, etc,

EAMON TIMMINS,

Head of Advocacy and Communications,

Age Action,

Lower Camden Street,

Dublin 2.