The Health Minister says private health insurers should be reducing the cost of their premiums and not hiking them.
Dr. James Reilly says he is disappointed that VHI announced price hikes yesterday of an average of 9%.
The other main health insurance firms have also increased their premiums since the start of the year.
But Minister Reilly says that he is hopeful a new “insurance forum” involving the main companies in the Irish market will lead to reductions in time.
He was speaking with Radio Kerry.
