• New industry report commissioned by Insurance Ireland from Milliman shows Ireland’s private health insurance covers 2.5 million people (46% of the population) and paid out €3 billion in claims in 2024.
• Industry and Government engagement required to support the future of public and private healthcare in context of Slaintecare, report finds.
• Private health insurance sector supports employment of over 11,000 people.
• Private health insurance supports Ireland’s FDI attractiveness by ensuring access to world-class care for domestic and international employers and staff.

05 December 2025: A new industry report commissioned by Insurance Ireland from consulting firm Milliman shows that nearly half of Ireland’s population (46%) rely on private health insurance.  The report, commissioned by Insurance Ireland, the representative body for the insurance sector in Ireland, found that the value of claims covered by private health insurance has grown significantly over the past five years, with a 35% increase from €2.25 billion in 2019 to just over €3 billion in 2024 alone. Through private health insurance, over 1 million treatments were delivered across a spectrum of categories – including orthopaedic, cancer, digestive, cardiac, and genitourinary – benefitting more than 800,000 claimants in 2024, with total claims exceeding €1.7 billion in these specialities alone.

The increase in health services delivered through the private system offers benefits not just to members but also to the wider healthcare system, as it reduces pressure on public hospitals and plays a role in reducing wait times for certain procedures.

In this context, health insurers are calling for proactive government involvement with a review of legislation and regulations governing the sector that could benefit current and prospective private health insurance members. Ensuring regulatory frameworks evolve in line with market changes was also noted as a consensus among health insurers, as was the need to retain the relevancy of entry-level products in the context of Sláintecare.

As a key enabler of Sláintecare, private health insurance serves as a catalyst for healthcare innovation. Interviews conducted with member companies in the private health insurance sector revealed a growing adoption of innovative care approaches, with health insurers and private hospitals at the forefront of developing new models of care. These initiatives include expanding access to treatment in ambulatory clinics, consultancy rooms, digital consultations, home-based care services and increases in preventative and proactive care, among others – closely aligning with Sláintecare’s goal of delivering care in the most appropriate setting.

Private health insurance providers have led the charge in providing care in the most appropriate setting, with insurers noting that a shift to provide care outside of hospital settings is yielding positive results. This includes improved patient access, reduced waiting times for certain procedures, higher patient satisfaction, lower cost per procedure, and improved optimisation of hospital capacity where resources can be focused on inpatient care.

In the report, insurers referenced several measures for consideration by Government, including a review of tax relief at source and incentives for corporate sponsorship of employee health insurance. The report also shows that employer-sponsored health insurance is seen as an important benefit for attracting and retaining talent across multinational and indigenous business in Ireland. Among the challenges identified in the report by Milliman was the need to attract and retain younger and healthier members to support intergenerational solidarity and the long-term financial prospect of private health insurance. In recent years, the growth in new members has slowed which is largely attributed to the ageing population in Ireland and the upward pressure on premiums.

Speaking about the report, Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, Insurance Ireland, said:

“The private health insurance market is an integral part in Ireland’s healthcare system and plays a crucial societal role in enabling 2.5 million people to have access to excellent healthcare. The Milliman Report highlights the benefits of private health insurance to individuals and businesses, with members gaining greater access, greater choice and greater innovation in care, while also alleviating pressures in the public system.

Although the market continues to grow, ongoing challenges remain that should be addressed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the market through collaboration between industry stakeholders and government representatives, this can be achieved, ensuring the continued positive impact of the sector.”

To read the full report, visit: Private health insurance in Ireland – How PHI supports access, innovation and sustainable healthcare within a changing system

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For more information, please contact:

• Nuala Buttner, Q4PR, nuala@q4pr.ie, 085 174 4275
• Rachel Power, Q4PR, rachel@q4pr.e, 087 939 9605