The number of people covered by in-patient private health insurance plans fell by 10,000 in the final quarter of last year, according to new figures produced by the regulator for the sector, the Health Insurance Authority.
It said there were 2,099,000 people insured with inpatient health insurance plans at the end of December 2012.
“This represents a reduction in the number of insured people of 10,000 over the quarter and 64,000 (2.9 per cent) over the year.”
Since the peak of the health insurance market in 2008, the new figures indicate that around 200,000 people have dropped their cover.
The Health Insurance Authority said that the market peaked at almost 2.3 million at the end of 2008. It said that in addition to those insured with inpatient plans, there were 101,000 insured with products solely providing outpatient benefits or health insurance cash plans.
The Health Insurance Authority report, released today, said that based on Central Statistic Office population estimates for April 2012, the percentage of the population with inpatient health insurance plans currently stood at 45.8 per cent down from the 2008 peak of 50.9 per cent.
"Total health insurance premiums paid in 2012 amounted to €2.23bn, an increase of 9 per cent from 2011. The average premium paid per insured person (including children) in 2012 was €1,048 (€838 net of tax relief at source), an increase of 12 per cent from 2011.
