Several flaws have emerged in the Government healthcare plan introduced for enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces last year.
Several flaws have emerged in the Government healthcare plan introduced for enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces last year, including the fact it does not give them access to mental health services.
In addition, those seeking the health cover are having to borrow money as consultants want payment upfront and are not prepared to wait for their fees to be reimbursed by the Department of Defence.
It has also emerged that waiting times for reimbursement have lengthened in the Naval Service because it currently doesn’t have a person trained to compile the reimbursement applications.
Meanwhile in contrast, a health cover scheme founded by PDForra is doing so well that it is to be opened to retired members of the Defence Forces.
PDForra president Mark Keane said he has been made aware of the flaws and has spoken to military personnel who’ve had to borrow from family and friends to pay consultants.
He also said he’s concerned about the lack of access to mental health services under the semi-private health scheme, especially as personnel serving overseas have suffered from traumatic incidents over the years.
The scheme for enlisted personnel is only semi-private while senior officers get fully private cover.
PDForra founded its PMAS private healthcare in 2018 and it currently has 3,400 members who pay €1.50 a week.
To date 567 of its members have received healthcare under a cross-border agreement at the private Kingsbridge Private Hospital, Belfast. Of those 439 underwent surgery mainly for orthopedic problems. One person who needed very specialist medical help was treated in Germany.
It has also funded IVF and cancer treatment along with vasectomies and varicose vein surgery.
The PDForra annual conference in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, heard there are now plans to expand the scheme to more people.
Damien Quigley, who is in charge of PMAS, said it is to be opened up to members of the Defence Forces who were previously paying into PMAS fund but who have since retired. He estimated that this will make it open to a further 1,300 people.
Mr Quigley said it is hoped to expand the scheme further to make it eligible for husbands, wives and partners of PMAS members. This could potentially nearly double the membership.
No government funding has gone into PMAS.
“PMAS asked former Minister for Defence Simon Coveney for €100,000 to bolster the scheme, but it wasn’t forthcoming. We will address this and the issues with the government’s semi-private cover with Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Michael Martin,” Mr Keane said.
Mr Martin will address around 100 delegates who represent PDForra’s 6,500 members in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps at the conference on Wednesday.
Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy will not be in attendance as he has commitments in Europe. Instead, this address will be made by Deputy Chief of Staff (Support Branch) Major General Adrian O’Murchu.