A Laois TD has called for the abolishment of Ireland's two-tier healthcare system, arguing that 'constant price hikes' of health insurance is 'crucifying' Laois pensioners and renters.

Speaking in the Dáíl during a debate on private health insurance legislation, Independent Deputy Brian Stanley argued that over 1.5 million Irish people are 'forgotten about' by the healthcare system, while Ireland is one of the richest nations in Europe.

“The cost of private health insurance puts a huge burden on people, in particular, it puts a huge burden on pensioners, who feel they have no choice. People feel compelled to take up private health insurance because of the delays and inefficiencies in our public system," Deputy Stanley argued.

Pictured: Laois locals suffering due to health insurance hikes, says Laois TD. File photo

"I have dealt with pensioners who are on €280 a week and are paying €40 to €60 for private health insurance. We are seeing several hikes in the one year.

We have a market model. While we are stuck with having to use private health insurance, there are flaws in this approach. It is based on profit rather than medical need. It is a two-tier system," he said.

The Deputy said that each week, he sees examples of Laois locals in need of urgent medical care or surgery, such as hip replacements.

"The scandal of the two-tier system is that in spite of what the proclamation read out in 1916 said about treating everyone equally, these people are being told that, if they pay, they can be brought in next week but, if they cannot pay, they will have to sit there for two or three years," he said.

"I have seen several examples of that. That is what we need to change."

The Deputy recalled comments made by former Minister for Health Mary Harney, who called for Ireland to adopt either the Boston healthcare model or the Berlin model.

"What she meant was that we would go with the American Health model. Previous speakers have said that we should go with the Thatcherite private model. That is the system in America. How has that worked out? You have to be a millionaire to get treatment," Deputy Stanley slammed.

Pictured: Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise campus, file photo

"Are we seriously being told we should go down the route of the American model where you have to be a millionaire, or very close to it, before you can get your appendix taken out or something else done? That is not where we need to go. We need to look after people.

"Some 2.53 million people have private health insurance. A total of 1.57 million have medical card cover. However, we have 1.3 million who have neither - that is 1.3 million people without proper healthcare of any kind. Some of them may have a GP-
only card, which I acknowledge is a help, but it is still a long way off," he shared.

"These are the same people who cannot get on a local authority housing waiting list. They cannot get a mortgage - and if they do get a mortgage, they are crucified trying to pay it out of their wages.

Most likely, they are paying for a car to travel to work. If they are in private rented accommodation, they are really at the mercy of a wild west system. They are trapped in a very difficult place. On top of all of that, they do not have medical cover. They ask me why they are being left out the whole time," the Laois TD said.

Deputy Stanley called for the implementation of Sláintecare.

"We are an outlier in Europe. We do not have a national health system comparable to other north European countries. Per head of population, we are counted as one of the richest countries.

"We do need to move to a single-tier system to ensure the people I referred to at the outset do not feel compelled to pay €40 to €60 a week," Deputy Stanley finished.

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