The report (published February 2007) assessed competition between private health insurers within the limits of wider public policy goals.

The goal of public policy in private health insurance is intergenerational solidarity. This means that the young subsidise the old by paying the same prices for private health insurance, despite their lower risk to health insurers. Intergenerational solidarity is underpinned by the principles of community rating, open enrolment, lifetime cover, minimum benefits and risk equalisation. We did not assess the necessity, proportionality or appropriateness of these principles.
 
We made 16 recommendations to promote competition in the private health insurance market in Ireland, including the following:

• Vhi Healthcare should not be exempt from prudential regulation. VHI should be subject to the same solvency rules as other health insurers in Ireland.
• Publish more information on, and promote consumer awareness of, the ease of switching health insurer.  This should include providing consumers with useful and timely information on other private health insurance products.
• The Health Insurance Authority should be given more powers to enforce the Health Insurance Acts and to promote the interests of consumers.

Since the publication of the report, the Health Insurance Authority has been given more enforcement powers. In addition, a switching code and a price comparison tool have been introduced.

Consumers now have more information and protection than ever before when it comes to choosing the best private health insurance product for them.

The Health Insurance Authority has completed a public consultation on the Minimum Benefits Regulations on foot of a Government decision that the  Regulations should reflect how healthcare is delivered in a modern context.

Unimplemented Recommendations: