Faircare.

dlofnep

I'd like to discuss Fine Gael's proposal's for mandatory health insurance, in their health-care proposals, available here: http://www.finegael.org/upload/file/FairCare.pdf

As I understand it - those who do not currently avail of a medical card, will be required to purchase health insurance. I have a few questions for any members of Fine Gael to answer.

1) Under the current economic climate, is it fair to require families who are under financial strain to purchase mandatory-health care? While Faircare suggests that low-income families may avail of a subsidy towards their healthcare package - is it not fair to say that means testing in Ireland is not always fair, and therefore - wouldn't this proposal put financial strain on many families who cannot afford it?

2) What penalties will Fine Gael introduce to those who do not buy health insurance?

3) How would such a huge transition be financed under the current economic woes?

4) Fine Gael aspires to creating a healthcare system that mimics the Dutch Model. However, Is it a true representation of the Dutch healthcare system, when hospitals will still remain public?

5) When will Fine Gael provide a detailed account, defining who will be subsidised and who will not be?

If we could get the ball rolling on this topic, it would be great. Let's try and keep party politics out of it. I just want to discuss the merits, or lack of - in Fine Gael's faircare proposal.

danman

As a sufferer of a long term chronic illness, I was advised over
10 years ago by my consultant, not to take out health insurance.

he explained that my personal care would be no different either way.

It turns out he was right, but not how he thought.
5 years ago, I had to start a particular new form of treatment.
I received this treatment free as I was a public patient.

I spent time in hospital every 8 weeks to receive treatment. My fellow sufferers were
also in with me. Those patients on health insurance, had to pay €1,000 for each infusion.
The insurance companies deemed the meds, too expensive.

Would I be forced to take up health insurance?
As someone with a long term illness, would I be penelised when new treatments become available, similarly to my fellow patients who were on health insurance?

ei.sdraob

hmmm

Fine Gael is not proposing the abolition of private health insurance. We are proposing
that Ireland ultimately moves to a single-tier UHI system, where everyone has
mandatory health insurance and can choose from a range of insurance plans. In other
words, we want to give choice to everyone.

good ill stay with my private insurance so

i can seem to find in the document how much will this cost for someone on average industrial wage, in fact i cant find any cases in the document as to how much it will cost

i have a feeling that once again the middle to high earners will endup subsidising this and will be in effect another hidden tax

they really do need to release more figures, too much fluff in that document

Laminations

Didn't Trinity release some figures on universal healthcare recently? Off the top of my head i think it was a 6euro increase in tax per week. Whatever it was they concluded we could get a one tier system cheaply

ei.sdraob

Laminations wrote: »

Didn't Trinity release some figures on universal healthcare recently? Off the top of my head i think it was a 6euro increase in tax per week. Whatever it was they concluded we could get a one tier system cheaply

are FG going to use that proposal that was on the news??

I crunched the numbers on that and it would mean in my case (if forced to pay it ) I personally would have to pay twice more for my health insurance (subsidising others)

Im quite healthy at moment and havent been to a Hospital since last century but i do care about health care in long-term, especially insurance

CoalBucket

danman wrote: »

I received this treatment free as I was a public patient.

Would I be forced to take up health insurance?/QUOTE]

Having read the FG (Labour) proposal it seems to me that If you qualify for free healthcare now, you will also qualify for free healthcare under this sytem.

This system has been operating in the Netherlands and has proved to be a very good health sytem. All in all we have a similar spend on our health system but they have a vastly superior service.

ei.sdraob

CoalBucket wrote: »

n operating in the Netherlands and has proved to be a very good health sytem. All in all we have a similar spend on our health system but they have a vastly superior service.

Who here wants to bet
that the health sector unions will do everything to prevent the current system from being "reformed" and becoming more Dutch-like

The_Honeybadger

ei.sdraob wrote: »

Who here wants to bet
that the health sector unions will do everything to prevent the current system from being "reformed" and becoming more Dutch-like

+ 1 they will fight tooth and nail to keep the status quo going, privatisation of the health system would be the beginning of the end for them, would love to see Liam Dorans face the day this is introduced

dlofnep

ei.sdraob wrote: »

Who here wants to bet
that the health sector unions will do everything to prevent the current system from being "reformed" and becoming more Dutch-like

They very well might, on account of the job losses that would be incurred. The HSE would be drastically reduced, so why wouldn't they protect the interests of their workers?

But in saying that - Let's try remain on topic. I want to try and get a better understanding of this Faircare proposal.