Hepatitis C Insurance Scheme

If you contact our office, Transfusion Positive will provide guidance on all aspects of the Hepatitis C Insurance Scheme, the main points of which are outlined on this page. Transfusion Positive have two representatives on the Steering Committee for Insurance Scheme for Persons with Hepatitis C (State Acquired). The Committee was established to advise on all aspects of the implementation of the insurance scheme as set out in the legislation. The Committee includes representatives from all the support groups.

Hepatitis C Insurance Scheme

The Scheme enables eligible persons with State Acquired Hepatitis C to take out insurance as if they were not infected. The Scheme will enable everyone with Hepatitis C from receipt, within the State, of blood or blood products to take out insurance without financial penalty.

This means that individuals who take out insurance under this Scheme will only pay the standard premium to the Insurer. The Administrator of the Scheme will pay any additional premiums to the insurance company for persons who are rated and also cover additional risks for persons deemed uninsurable.

Eligibility Certificate

Access to the scheme is gained by filling out an application form and posting it to the Administrator of the Scheme in order to obtain an Eligibility Certificate. There are a number of ways in which you can do this:

Who Can Enter?

All persons who contracted Hepatitis C from the receipt, within the State, of blood and blood products:

  • Spouses or any person who is a partner of an eligible participant for a continuous period of not less that 3 years.
  • Spouses or partners must enter the Scheme at the same time on a joint life basis. back to top

Can I Appeal If I Am Not Happy?

In the event of a dispute regarding the entitlements under this Scheme, an Appeals Officer appointed by the Minister for Health and Children will adjudicate the dispute and the provisions of the Statutory Instrument [no. 31 of 2007] will apply. back to top

What Is The Open Period?

The first 12 months after the official commencement date is known as the Open Period. The initial Open Period for entry into the Life Insurance Scheme, without penalties, ends on the 11th September 2008.

Uninsurable Lives

Some people with Hepatitis C may be assessed by an insurer to be uninsurable for Life Cover. In these circumstances, you can still be insured under this Scheme and the following benefits will be paid:

  • If you enter the Scheme during the Open Period, full cover is paid out on your death.
  • If you enter the Scheme after the Open Period, full cover will be paid out on your death, if your age on entry to the Scheme was less than 30 years. back to top

Policies Taken Out After The Open Period

Limited Cover: If you enter the Scheme after the Open Period, or after reaching 30 years of age, limited cover is paid out on your death. In this case payment will be made as follows:

For accidental deaths, the full sum will be paid out.

In all other cases:

  • If age of entry was less than 50, the sum assured will be paid out on an increasing scale over a 2-year period, depending on the time period that the policy is in force.
  • If age at entry is more than 50, the sum assured will be paid out on an increasing scale over a 3-year period, depending on the time period that the policy is in force.

Restrictions To Entry

The maximum age of entry will normally be 65 years. However, during the Open Period the age of entry will be increased to 75 years. All Life Cover under the Scheme ceases when you reach the upper age limit of 75 years. Proposals may only be submitted by the individual, partner, financial dependant or the individual’s independent financial advisor. Life Cover for persons deemed uninsurable may be subject to certain restrictions [see section – Policies taken out after the Open Period]. back to top

Available Cover

Life cover is available to:

  • Maximum sum assured equals €420,000

Or

  • The equivalent of 7 times annual earnings up to a maximum of €525,000

Mortgage Protection Cover

Mortgage Protection Cover is available to a maximum of €394,000 or the average Dublin house price plus 25%.

  • Mortgage cover is only available when purchasing, changing or improving your primary residence.
  • Your mortgage provider must certify that the loan falls within these conditions.
  • During the Open Period additional mortgage cover of €100,000 is available for equity release on any property.
  • Additional proposals may be submitted at any time up to the maximum overall limits.
  • Life Cover may be taken out, up to the maximum benefit available, regardless of any existing Life Assurance or Mortgage Protection Cover that you may already have.

Please note: the Scheme does not provide either serious illness cover or permanent health insurance cover. back to top

Increases In Scheme Limits

Life Cover:

The Scheme limits will be revised each year in line with the Consumer Price Index [CPI], which is used to measure the rate of inflation in Ireland.

Mortgage Protection Cover

Mortgage Protection Cover will be matched at the level set, for the time being, by the Permanent TSB/ESRI Dublin House Price Index.

Travel Insurance

The Travel Insurance Scheme will enable persons with State acquired Hepatitis C to take out travel insurance without financial penalty, irrespective of existing health conditions. This means that persons with State acquired Hepatitis C can take out travel insurance as if they were not infected. The Scheme is based on the same principles as the Life Cover Scheme with individuals paying the normal premium and any extra premium being paid by the Administrator. The Scheme will be known as Emerald Travel Insurance

If you contact our office, Transfusion Positive will provide guidance on all aspects of the Travel Insurance Scheme, the main points of which are outlined below.

Eligibility Certificate

  • An Eligibility Certificate is required by the insurer when you decide to take out travel insurance. If you already have an Eligibility Certificate there is no need to apply for a new one.
  • If you do not have an Eligibility Certificate you may obtain one by contacting the Administrator at the Hepatitis C Insurance Scheme office - 1850 211 570. If you require assistance if obtaining an Eligibility Certificate you can contact our office.

Who Can Take Out Travel Insurance?

  • All eligible persons who contracted Hepatitis C from the receipt of contaminated blood or blood products within the State.
  • The Spouse or partner of an eligible person.
  • Dependents of an eligible person.
  • Other relatives or friends whose travel arrangements are likely to be affected because of the pre-existing conditions of an eligible person.

What Type Of Cover Is Available?

  • You may take out an annual multi-trip policy only. This means that you may travel on as many trips every year as you wish. Please note that variations in policy terms may apply if another insurer offers travel insurance under the Scheme.

Can I Travel Anywhere?

  • Yes. The policy applies to any destination worldwide.

How Long Can Any Trip Last?

31 days. However, there is an option to extend the duration of any one trip, but this can only be done with permission from the insurer. Please note that variations in policy terms may apply if another insurer offers travel insurance under the Scheme. back to top