IMPACT has also said that the Department of Health itself has questioned UHI as a model for funding public health services. A March 2014 Department of Health document says “there is no compelling argument as to why we would move away from our current funding mechanisms.”

Louise said the biggest UHI burden would fall on families that currently have no health insurance and no medical card. “It’s safe to assume that most people in this category, which could be said to typify the so-called ‘squeezed middle,’ simply cannot afford private health insurance. Yet they will now be compelled by law to pay,” said Louise.

She added that people who currently have health insurance would also pay more because of plans to withdraw tax relief on health insurance.

Louise told the Glenties event that structures necessary to change the health service funding model – including hospital and primary care clusters – were “nowhere near working.” Current plans would leave Ireland with a “two-or-more-tier system,” with better services for those who can afford to pay more. Meanwhile, hospitals would continue to struggle to keep on budget while meeting demand.

IMPACT says the recent consultation over UHI was a sham because it did not allow consideration of any approach except the ‘competing insurers’ model favoured by former minister Reilly. “There are many models, including successful models, of funding universal health provision. The ‘competing insurers’ UHI model has been selected without consideration of the alternatives so this rushed consultation has been a sham,” said Louise.

The union wants the Government to look at models from France, Germany and the Nordic countries. “The single-payer social insurance systems adopted in these countries are providing equality of access to what, by Irish standards, are high quality, well-funded and efficient health services,” said Louise.

See a video of Louise’s speech.