Register of Health Benefit Undertakings
The Authority maintains the "The Register of Health Benefits Undertakings" ("the Register"). In order to carry on the business of health insurance in Ireland, it is necessary for health insurers to be registered and to obtain a certificate of registration from the Authority under Section 14 of the Health Insurance Act, 1994.
A certificate is valid for 12 months. The Authority only issues a certificate once it has examined the scheme and it is satisfied that the proposed scheme of the health insurer complies with all relevant legislative provisions. The issuing of a certificate confirms that a health insurer may offer private health insurance in accordance with the terms of their rules and with the legislation. Any registered undertakings that has ceased to provide health insurance must be removed from the Register.
There are three types of health insurer in Ireland;
1. Insurers such as Aviva Health, GloHealth, laya healthcare and Vhi Healthcare that provide in-patient health insurance cover and that must accept, subject to certain limited terms and conditions, all persons who wish to purchase private health insurance cover. These insurers may also provide cash benefit plans
2. Other schemes, mainly those schemes, the membership of which is restricted to employees of particular organisations that provide in-patient health insurance cover.
3. Insurers, such as GloHealth and HSF, that only provide cash benefit plans in certain circumstances.
The List of Registered Undertakings on the Register at 1 July 2012, can be reviewed here.
New entrants: The Authority would welcome new entrants to the private health insurance market in Ireland, as the arrival of a new entrant should increase the level of competition. The Authority provides information to potential new entrants on:
- the legislative environment in which private health insurance in Ireland operates
- the private healthcare delivery system in Ireland
- non commercially sensitive statistical information on private health insurance in Ireland.