Exorbitant VHI hikes are a national insult

The announcement by the VHI that it is increasing subscriptions by as much as 45% has shocked ordinary Irish citizens who are absorbing those cost of living hikes imposed in the recent budget. The VHI has l.4 million members practically all of whom are just ordinary citizens trying to make ends meet. In fact many of them are unemployed, are retired or are approaching retirement. They have faithfully paid their VHI subscriptions for all of their working lives and now in their senior years when they seek a pay back in terms of health cover what happens.....the state insurer pulls the rug from under them. It is act of unforgivable shame that this should be allowed happen. Along with being saddled with the debts of the banks this latest VHI hike adds insult to injury for the average Irish citizen. One must ask what is the government's role in all of this - after all the VHI is a state health insurance company. However, in line with the hands off policy that has crept into governmental administration here in recent years it is now the case that the VHI no longer has to seek approval for a hike in subscriptions. This is as a result of legislation introduced in 2009. There is therefore no restraining influence on the VHI - they can introduce subscriptions by as much as they like. Health Minister Mary Harney has urged VHI subscribers to shop around - that there is no penalty for doing so. But this is not being fully honest. Health insurance is not like car insurance. People have medical histories which are often complex. As a result it is not so easy to make the shift from one health insurer to another. It is especially daunting and cumbersome for people in the older age bracket. Ringing phone lines, talking to automated answering machines, being directed to websites is all the stuff of nightmares for senior citizens a big proportion of whom have been paying into the VHI for 50 years. They deserve better and are being treated very shabbily by the state insurer and also by the government who cannot wash their hands of the situation in this instance. Over the decades Irish citizens were actively encouraged to join the VHI so as to pay their health costs when they went into hospital. Not to take out VHI was seen as being negligent - not alone to themselves and their families but also in terms of civic responsibility. That was the underpinning philosophy which persuaded thousands to join the VHI. However, in more recent years having health insurance has been subjected to sustained and unfair criticism with well heeled media pundits and politicians claiming it is a means of queue jumping for hospital care. For the overwhelming majority of VHI customers this never was the reason for joining. They have paid huge fortunes to the state insurer over the years and the government must not allow VHI walk away from its responsibilities to its members. This is what will happen if action is not taken - because many people who paid into VHI for long periods are now being forced to stop doing so due to the punitive price increases just announced. Talk of the government's “hands being tied†does not wash. The VHI is still a state board and the government is its ultimate boss - an exercise in executive authority of the elected executive of the people is called for in this instance. VHI subscribers are entitled to nothing less.