Public beds charge ‘far higher than projection’

By Gary Culliton.   Independent assessors, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) and Deloitte, have predicted a sum in the region of between €115 million and €130 million will be generated as a result of the mooted charge for public hospital beds — far higher than was initially projected.   Tax relief at source involves another €170 million. “Customers and the community must ultimately pay for it,” said Donal Clancy, Managing Director of Laya Healthcare. More than 250,000 customers have given up their health insurance, it has emerged. “When these subscribers give up their health insurance, there are three impacts: Over…