Irish Life: Signing hospital’s form isn’t obligatory

PEOPLE with private health insurance are being advised by their own insurance company to reconsider admitting this when taken to a public hospital.

Patients have reported being asked to sign a Private Insurance Patient Form when being admitted to hospital.

Now at least one company is urging patients to find out exactly what they will get for their money before they sign these insurance forms.

In a communication sent to clients, Irish Life says: ‘You don’t have to sign this waiver form if you don’t want to. Unless you are guaranteed a private or semi-private room, your treatment will be exactly the same.’

A spokeswoman told the MoS: ‘Irish Life Health is not suggesting that our members conceal their private health insurance. We have written to our customers to inform them of their rights when accessing the public health system.

‘Regardless of whether they inform the hospital that they have health insurance cover, they have a choice in relation to signing the form. If they choose to be treated as a public patient, the €80 nightly fee will still be paid for by Irish Life Health directly to the hospital on behalf of our customer.’