Currently Visiting » QUINN-Insurance Home » About Us » Press » Press

QUINN HEALTHCARE ENTERS IRISH MARKET

• 500 additional jobs planned in Fermoy expansion
• Price freeze for 2007
• VHI customers urged to switch

The Quinn Group today entered the Irish health insurance market with the completion of its takeover of BUPA Ireland Limited's business. The new company will be known as QUINN healthcare and will continue to be based in Fermoy Co. Cork. In order to meet the anticipated growth in QUINN healthcare's business the company intends to develop a new office facility in Fermoy that will hold up to 800 staff.

QUINN healthcare has taken over all the existing operations of BUPA Ireland Limited from where it will service its membership base of 440,000. This customer base, combined with our 500,000 customers, will create one of the leading financial services organisations in Ireland. Quinn-direct has transformed the general insurance market in recent years and the entry of QUINN healthcare to the health insurance market will increase competition and innovation in the market.

QUINN healthcare is committed to providing market leading benefits at competitive prices. To illustrate this, prices for 2007 have been frozen, providing a significant differential between QUINN healthcare and the other insurers. This price gap will become even greater later in the year when VHI has its annual price increase. Currently an average family of two adults and two children on QUINN healthcare's mainstream comparable plan will save €391 per year by switching from VHI to QUINN healthcare.

QUINN healthcare is also committed to introducing new products and to ensuring its members have access to the best possible care and hospitals at the most competitive prices.

The company calls on existing members of VHI to switch to QUINN healthcare as they will be able to avail of:

• The highest levels of quality and customer service
• Our Commitment to provide Customer Choice for treatment
• Competitive Prices on a range of healthcare products to suit you and your family
• Switching is easy and we'll take over exactly where your old insurer leaves off
• Support an open and competitive health insurance market by switching from an inefficient government backed organisation

Commenting on the launch of QUINN healthcare, the Chairman of QUINN Group, Sean Quinn said:

"We are very excited about entering the health insurance market and believe the acquisition of BUPA Ireland Limited gives us a fantastic platform to become the leading health insurer in Ireland. We are in the health insurance market for the long-term and will build on all of the elements of BUPA Ireland Limited’s success, particularly the extensive range of benefits and high standards of customer care.
I would like to thank all our members for the loyalty they have shown in recent times and we will repay this loyalty by providing them in the years ahead with the best possible cover at the most competitive prices as Quinn-direct has done in motor insurance.

While we support the concept of community ratin we believe that the healt insurance marke is best serve by havin transparent and open competition and t this end w believe the government must act t pu an end t th anti-competitive and dominant position of th VHI. Indeed, their position is being reinforced by th government’s insistence on continuing to implement the current unfai risk equalisation scheme. We ar determined to creat a competitive healt insurance marke and will take whatever actio is required to achieve this.
I would call on existing VHI members to switch to QUINN healthcare to avail of our lower prices, excellent customer service and commitment to an open and competitive market."

Ends 17th April 2007

For further information, please contact: Quinn Group
Brian Bell, WHPR,
Tel: (01) 669 0030
Mobile: (087) 243 6130