BUPA closing in Fermoy

[dahamsta]

Back to same situation that Bupa were in couple of months ago.Precisely why it should be a condition of any exemption. Except of course there shouldn't be an exemption, since Quinn isn't a new entrant to the in-sewer-ants market.

[pete]

Precisely why it should be a condition of any exemption. Except of course there shouldn't be an exemption...

2 Choices:

- Give private companies exemptions & maintain competition in the market.
- No exemptions, no competition. VHI have 100% of private health insurance market. Prices will naturally creep upwards & service drops as always happens with monopolies. Less people take out private health insurance so state has to pay for them.

[Macy]

Prices will naturally creep upwards & service drops as always happens with monopolies.
Prices are going up because of two factors:
1) The Government making VHI build up a reserve, and the only way they can do that is with increased charges
2) The Government has put up charges for Private patients in public hospitals.

btw Have we not just swapped monopolies for duopolies and oligopolies? Super normal profits for the private companies that come into the market, as opposed to competition driving down price?