Interestingly, the Irish Labour Party had a rudimentary idea of floor-level medical insurance at the 2002 general election; the state would buy health insurance for those who did not have it (presumably means-tested!). However, post-election analysis conducted internally by Labour demonstrated that people on the doorstep didn't appreciate the rationale for this. Presumably, this is because many many people already pay twice for health in Ireland: once through tax and agan through their VHI / BUPA (historically!) / VIVAS. In addition, the medical card is available for all over 70, and people on very low incomes also avail of medical cards. Finally, people with some chronic conditions receive free medication, and those who have high recurring prescription costs also have heavily susbsidised medication. So, with this amount of coverage, is there a place for a recognisable universal health scheme above and beyond these existing schemes? In my view, this was Labour's problem...an inability to see what their innovation would practicably achieve.
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Interestingly, the Irish Labour Party had a rudimentary idea of floor-level medical insurance at the 2002 general election; the state would buy health insurance for those who did not have it (presumably means-tested!). However, post-election analysis conducted internally by Labour demonstrated that people on the doorstep didn't appreciate the rationale for this. Presumably, this is because many many people already pay twice for health in Ireland: once through tax and agan through their VHI / BUPA (historically!) / VIVAS. In addition, the medical card is available for all over 70, and people on very low incomes also avail of medical cards. Finally, people with some chronic conditions receive free medication, and those who have high recurring prescription costs also have heavily susbsidised medication. So, with this amount of coverage, is there a place for a recognisable universal health scheme above and beyond these existing schemes? In my view, this was Labour's problem...an inability to see what their innovation would practicably achieve.
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