Health care - at what cost?

Ireland’s government spending on health care is amongst the highest in the OECD, up 2/3rds over the past decade. This has yielded some commendable results, with life expectancy increased by a year and the death rate for many diseases down more than 1/3rd. The private and public systems have experienced many common cost pressures such as population ageing and technology. But what impact will further increases in cost have on our health care system, against the background of severe austerity cuts?

In the private system, the scale of increases in the cost of health care has been met with shock by many consumers and employers. A typical family has seen the cost of private health insurance double in recent years and it is now unaffordable for many people. Expected regulatory changes may put further pressure on insurance costs. 

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland believes that addressing costs is key to the future of private health insurance and is fundamental to giving universal health insurance the best chance of success.

This conference assembles Irish and international health care experts to discuss the trends in managing health care costs. Our speakers will examine what lessons can be learned from reform and cost-saving initiatives in other countries. We will examine key culprits for cost inflation and comment on whether quality and cost control can co-exist.

Presentations will include: 

  Managing medical cost inflation: global successes and failures - by Joanne Buckle

Description: Almost every country in the world experiences health costs rising faster than incomes. This talk will briefly examine the underlying reasons for this and then present examples from around the world of initiatives taken to tame the healthcare inflation monster. The talk will include examples from the US, the UK and other international markets, encompassing initiatives in private health insurance markets as well as public systems.

 Healthcare Costs - An International Insurer's Perspective - by David Costello

 Description: In this presentation David Costello will look at some interesting comparisons on healthcare costs between different regions of the world.  He will set out the issues that we face in relation to increasing Healthcare Costs including inflation, fraud, treatments abroad and technology.  During this presentation various approaches taken by different countries to address the problem of increasing healthcare costs are discussed.  Finally David will give some thoughts on how to find the Holy Grail - Balancing healthcare cost against provision.

 The Agenda is attached below.

To access podcast please contact the Society: info@actuaries.ie