Varadkar set to rule out plan for Universal Health Insurance
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar is expected to tell the Cabinet this morning that previous plans for universal health insurance are too costly.
Minister Varadkar is set to inform Ministers of research, carried out by the ESRI and KPMG, that shows his predecessor's proposals would cost €650m a year - and that many would pay premiums of €2,228 for adults and €773 for children, without a subsidy.
The Irish Examiner has reported that Government source said that research, will put an end to any plan to introduce the multi-payer model, which would have seen private insurers competing with each other and the public VHI to pay for aspects of healthcare, primarily GP and hospital care.
The much-publicised plan from former Minister for Health James Reilly may now be postponed until late into the Government's second term - if it is re-elected.
The Cabinet is also consider the interim report from Judge Brian Cregan investigating transactions at the IBRC this morning.
However, Ministers are unlikely to make decisions on how to deal with the issues of confidentiality and legal privilege.
