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Patients being hit with €275 Stealth Covid Charge

Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has called on private health insurers and the government to resolve of the issue of private hospitals now charging patients for Covid-19 testing, and essentially making it a question in this country of who can afford to be tested for Covid-19?



Tóibín: “A number of constituents of mine forwarded me information that he had received shortly before scheduled hospital appointments. They were told that a ‘self-pay Covid surcharge’ would apply to their visit to Hospital. This surcharge would be approximately €275, and it would be up to them to see whether their medical insurers would cover the procedure. Many families who have insurance have had their circumstance changed radically because of Covid. For some a charge such as this will prevent them from accessing services.

€275 is a considerable amount of money and certainly not one most people could pay without concern. What if a family needs to get tested? Will that surcharge charged per person?



“To put it in context, if a person was in receipt of the Covid-19 PUP, they would be spending 78% of their weekly payment just to get tested for Covid-19, leaving them with €75 to live off for the rest of the week. That’s not even taking into account if they have families or dependants to care for. How is that fair? Families and households across the country have been hit in the pocket, and are fearful of the worsening economic situation? It is wholly wrong and infuriating to see a price being put on people’s well-being. A price which many cannot afford.”

By Aontú Press | 8 July, 2020



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The Irish political system is radically broken



In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.



Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.



Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.




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