Patients using some private hospitals are facing fees of up to €250 for Covid-19 testing before they can undergo a procedure.
The three main insurers VHI, Laya and Irish Life are not currently covering the fee. The Private Hospitals Association says the testing is being carried out in response to public health guidelines issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
It says that any additional costs incurred by private patients by these measures should be absorbed by health insurers. The association says the charge imposed is for each individual hospital to decide as it is the nature of that testing.
In a statement, the VHI says it is currently considering whether it will provide cover for the charge. It says while it understands the