# Insurance
Last month
August 2023
Axa to buy Laya Healthcare in deal worth €650 million
Laya is the second largest health insurer in Ireland, with 690,000 customers.
This year
2023
Car insurance costs fall by 5% following introduction of new claim guidelines
Litigation was the least popular choice for claimants but it made up 79% of total costs.
Insurers to offer cancer survivors the right to be forgotten under revised industry code
Insurers will disregard cancer diagnoses where treatment ended more than seven years before an application under a revised Insurance Ireland code of practice.
Last year
2022
Motor insurance premiums fell by 17% between 2017 and 2021
That’s according to statistics contained in the Central Bank’s fourth annual Private Motor Insurance Report.
Ulster Bank and KBC customers urged to update insurance before banks withdraw
Insurance Ireland has said that policies could lapse if customers don’t update their direct debits.
Govt liaising with insurance companies on cover for high-powered e-bikes
Insurance Ireland says it is unaware, at present, of any motor insurance products in Ireland designed for e-bikes.
Personal injury awards fell €118m last year on pre-pandemic levels
New personal injuries guidelines that came into effect reduced the average value of claims.
Insurance reform group calls for action as survey finds premiums increase by 16%
Changes introduced last year have seen personal injuries assessments fall by around 40 percent.
VHI to return money to customers as number of claims remains lower than expected due to pandemic
Customers will receive a return ranging from €75 to €300 per adult and from €25 to €100 per child.
Ban on insurance 'price walking' from July but new customer discounts still allowed
The regulations were the result of a review by the Central Bank of the use of differential pricing.
All time
Personal injuries awards drop 40% since new guidelines introduced
The Tánaiste said he expects the drop in award levels to be reflected in reduced insurance premiums.
Insurance report 'lays bare the greed behind industry crisis', say campaigners
It’s the first major overview of the employers’ liability, public liability and commercial property insurance market.
Warren Buffett names Greg Abel as successor at Berkshire Hathaway
Buffett currently ranks as the world’s sixth richest person with wealth of $103.7 billion.
Three people arrested and charged with procuring fraudulent car insurance policies
They are set to appear in court this morning.
New guidelines aimed at reducing personal injury awards to come into effect next week
Cabinet signed off on the new guidelines last month.
Pearse Doherty: Why TDs should support my Bill to end the loyalty penalty and reduce insurance costs
The Dáil will today vote on the Sinn Féin TD’s Bill to ban the practice of dual pricing by insurance companies.
'You're not a stupid man': Leo Varadkar and Pearse Doherty clash over Covid-19 insurance
Tensions were running high during Leaders’ Questions.
Majority of insurers use controversial differential pricing practice, Central Bank report finds
The practice sees customers with similar risks paying different premiums.
Motor insurance premiums rose 35% in a decade despite a massive drop-off in claims
Industry profit margins were up from 9% in 2018 to 10% last year.
Bar owners say they were 'given assurances' that insurer FBD would cover losses caused by Covid-19
The High Court heard further submissions in a case taken by bars against the insurer.
Pubs' legal action against FBD insurance over Covid-19 cover begins
In what are seen as important test cases lawyers representing four publicans have brought cases challenging FBD Insurance Plc’s refusal to indemnify them.
Capping of damages in personal injury cases is constitutionally permissible, says Law Reform Commission
The Commission examined similar legislation in other jurisdictions including the UK and Australia.
Insurer's bid to halt ombudsman investigation to be 'vigorously opposed', court told
The case was heard in the High Court today.
'The elephant in the sitting room': Long-awaited report on injury payouts could have 'dramatic' effect on premiums
The Judicial Council’s Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee is expected to publish its guidelines in October.
Whiplash award reduced from €76,000 to €41,000 as judge says personal injury litigation 'should not be a lottery'
“I am satisfied that by any reasonable measure it cannot be viewed as proportionate,” Mr Justice Seamus Noonan said of the original award.
Explainer: What does the new 'green list' mean for foreign travel?
It was a long time coming but there’s still plenty of debate out there.
Poll: Would you go on a foreign holiday without travel insurance?
Insurance Ireland has advised people to double-check their policy to see if they are covered for non-essential travel.
Varadkar told insurance reform must be top priority as he takes questions on his new brief
Treatment of businesses by insurance companies is “appalling”, Dáil told.
Insurer FBD puts €22m aside to cover potential losses in court case taken by pub owners over Covid-19 cover
The insurance firm said its policies do not provide cover for a pandemic of this nature.
Pub owners take FBD Insurance to court over Covid-19 disruption cover
Pub owners claim they are entitled to have consequential losses covered by what they say is an insurable risk.
There were an extra 14,000 uninsured vehicles on Irish roads last year
MIBI said the figures show an urgent need for an automatic number plate recognition system.
Threat of claims against businesses as a result of contracting Covid-19 on the premises to be examined
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has asked for an examination of the issue.
VHI and other insurers to partially refund customers after takeover of private hospitals during Covid-19 crisis
The size of the refund a customer receives is based on the plan that they have with the insurer.
People advised not to make changes to health insurance as Covid-19 deal is arranged with private hospitals
Private hospitals will act as part of the public health system for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, but the exact details are yet to be confirmed.
Minister says he expects insurers to 'play their part and act reasonably' by honouring claims
Claims are being rejected as Covid-19 is not on the list of infectious diseases on some policies.
Two people arrested as part of investigation into suspected staged road crashes
A number of properties were searched in Roscommon in February.
Tralee Aqua Dome warns centre could close over number of insurance claims
Accounts show the aqua dome is loss-making eight months of the year.
Q+A: Here's where Ireland's political parties stand on insurance ahead of GE2020
Anti-fraud gardaí, pooled insurance schemes and a potential referendum are all part of the parties’ plans on insurance.
MIBI welcomes withdrawal of case where man claimed he had to use wheelchair after accident
Video footage of the man walking without the wheelchair was shown in court.
