Madam, – I read Conor Pope’s article on the need for private medical insurance (Pricewatch, January 24th) with interest. While it was a good analysis of which aspects of private medical insurance are worth paying for and which are not, I would like to see some analysis on the moral consequences for the country, in persisting with a private health insurance system that allocates resources according to who can pay rather than who has the greater health need. Undoubtedly if lots of people stopped paying VHI and other health insurers, public waiting lists would increase.
However, hospital consultants, for example, would be spending more time treating people on these lists and this should result in shorter waiting times and ultimately, in better health outcomes for everyone. We have to face up to the fact that those people who use private medical insurance to avoid a waiting list are contributing to a system that disadvantages other people who may be sicker, but unable to pay.
Surely working towards a more equal society is a major priority at this point in the history of the country? – Yours, etc,