Nation's annual bout of health charge-itis.

(From Irish Independent)

EVERY YEAR, around this time, we get into a state of feverish indignation at the prospect of more VHI premium increases - but the reality is there is a huge level ofcomplacency among the privately insured, many of whom are not taking full advantage ofthe choice now available.

Startling findings from the Health Insurance Authority found that 38pc of people withhealth insurance are not even aware of what they are paying in premiums and few knowwhat they are covered for.

Despite the fact that BUPA has been in competition with VHI for a number of years now24pc of people believed that switching from one to the other was too much hassle or theycould just not be bothered.

However, the alarm bells are already ringing and we may be shaken out of our passivity very shortly due to a series of events which will affect the price of private healthinsurance, leaving us paying more.

The most imminent of these will be the decision of the Department of Health on whetherto withdraw from subsidising indemnity cover for hospital consultants against medical negligence claims. This would affect around 600 consultants who are involved in the careof patients in private hospitals. Surgeons would be hit with premiums of around [euro]60,000 - more than [euro]1,000 a week.

The inevitable consequence of this would be that the consultants would have to recoupthe cost in some way. There is a danger they would opt out of agreements with VHI and BUPA to provide full cover and it would mean we would see a return of top up billing.