“Urgent questions for Laya Healthcare as policy holder denied access to cancer treatment.” Michael Collins

Leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins has called for immediate clarification on the effectiveness of the regulatory protections being accorded to health insurance policy holders after he highlighted the case of a constituent who, despite having an annual plan costing €1,470, was subsequently denied access to Pembo, a recommended cancer treatment by the European Medicines Agency, by Laya Healthcare.

The Cork South-West TD raised the matter with the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan in the Dáil:

“I will not sit back and see sick and vulnerable constituents having the trauma of refused access to critical treatment imposed upon them by any healthcare company, especially when those same constituents signed up in good faith to a policy that clearly stated it would cover treatment to stop the spread of cancer and, where possible, to remove it entirely.”

“To my mind this is a clash between the accountant and the accountability mentality.”

“I am demanding accountability for my constituent who clearly feels that they have been sold a false bill of goods. We are not talking here about some novel or untested treatment. Pembro is not only a recommended cancer treatment by the European Medicines Agency, it is also part of the comprehensive treatment plan prescribed by consultants who specialise in cancer care.”

“All of Laya Healthcare’s estimated 675,000 members need to be aware of issue like this.”

“There are genuine public interest concerns here around the potential mis-selling of comprehensive healthcare products, products that may end up, at least for some, to be effectively worthless and a cost not worth incurring, especially if other providers do actually step up and provide the kind of cover laid out in the policy statement. On this point the Minister for Justice himself concurred with me.”

“I am also calling on the Health Insurance Authority, and indeed the Central Bank to launch an immediate investigation to ensure that Laya and all other providers are abiding by all their legal commitments to members and policy holders.2

“Innocent members of the public do have the kind of financial or institutional clout to fight back and that is why we need to leverage the regulatory firepower against providers who may be failing in their duty of care.”