Volume 2, July 2006 - EHC

Volume 2, July 2006New Insurance Scheme for Personswith HaemophiliaOn July 6th, the Irish Senate approved and passedinto law a novel insurance scheme which willbenefit persons with Haemophilia who wereinfected with HIV and/or Hepatitis C. The law wasthe result of 3 years of negotiation and discussionbetween the Irish Department of Health andthe 4 organisations, including the IrishHaemophilia Society which represent those whowere infected via the administration of blood orblood products. (The other organisations representthose infected via anti-d, Blood and Dialysisrespectively)The principle of the scheme is that no eligibleperson should have to pay a life insurance premiumwhich is higher than that which would becharged to a person of the same age and genderwho does not have HIV or Hepatitis C. Essentially,the individual will apply for insurance to one of apanel of insurance companies. A premium will becharged by the company. The individual will paythe portion of the premium which would apply toa perfectly healthy person of the same age andgender. The scheme administrator, on behalf ofthe Government, will pay the balance of the premiumincluding any loading applied by the insurancecompany for HIV, Hepatitis C, haemophiliaor any other existing medical condition. If anindividual is deemed "uninsurable" by the insurancecompanies, they will still be able to utilisethe scheme at the normally applicable premiumwith the Government assuming the insurance riskin full. Joint policies will also be possible withspouses or with partners where the relationshipis of at least 3 years duration. Life insurancecover will be available up to the age of 75 years.The scheme will provide access to life insurance,mortgage protection insurance and travelinsurance. Each individual will be allowed to availof life insurance up to a maximum of €420,000 orup to 7 times annual salary to a maximum of €525,000. In addition, each individual will be allowedto avail of mortgage insurance up to a maximumof €492,000 for the purchase, change, alterationor refurbishment of their principal residenceand up to €100,000 for any other propertythey own. All of these amounts will be index linkedto inflation. Work is currently underway todefine the parameters for the provision of travelinsurance.Following enactment of the law in July by boththe Dail (parliament) and the upper house(Senate), the Minister of Health will draft regulationsgiving effect to the provisions and a schemeadministrator will be appointed.This legislation, which has been the focus ofmuch work and effort by the 4 organisations andour legal teams over the past number of years,will provide the security of life insurance andmortgage insurance to those for whom such insurancewas previously prohibitively expensive orimpossible to obtain. It will allow persons withHaemophilia to make proper and adequate provisionfor their families.The insurance loadings (additional premiums)which will be applied by the insurance companieswill be paid by the scheme administrator onbehalf of the Government. The quantum of suchloadings will, I believe, be of interest to peoplewith haemophilia in many countries and, if possible,this information will be shared when available.Any person who would like a PDF copy of thelegislation should contact:Brian O’ Mahony at brianihs@eircom.netBrian O’ MahonyIrish Haemophilia Society13th July, 20065