The value of claims paid by the Voluntary Health Insurance (VHI) to cover chemotherapy treatment in the State has more than trebled in the last five years.
In a report entitled 'The Health of the Nation - Irish Healthcare Trends', the VHI reveals it paid nearly €18 million to cover chemotherapy treatments last year, an increase of over 240 per cent on 2000.
The insurer said maternity services accounted for the largest proportion of claims at €30 million which represented a rise of 62 per cent on 2000.
Chemotherapy was the next largest, followed by hip replacements operations which cost the insurer just under €18 million in 2005.
The next most common claim was for cardiac catheterisation procedures for which VHI paid out €13 million. The report said that the Irish population is aging and requires more healthcare.
Although the volume of claims has increased, so too has the number of members who claim.
The VHI said it processes an average of 14,000 claims per week on behalf of its members, or approximately 500,000 per year.
Over the past ten years the total VHI Healthcare claims payouts have increased by over 154 per cent, payout to hospitals has increased by 148 per cent and payout to doctors and consultants has increased by 168 per cent.
The increased volume of claims, the report said, is caused by a number of factors. "The nation has an ageing population, is becoming more affluent, has greater than ever access to information regarding health, new treatments and preventative actions and finally health is a primary concern for consumers," the report noted.
The VHI said medical indemnity insurance has also changed the way in which healthcare is delivered, with more people having diagnostic tests.
"There have been significant improvements in technology in recent years which have led to more effective treatment of different conditions as well as an improved patient experience and outcome," it said.