The Tánaiste has insisted the government is not to blame for a possible hike in health insurance premiums that could cost a family as much as €360.

The coalition is now planning to charge insurers the full cost of a public hospital bed. The measure will cost insurers an extra €60 million this year and €120 million in a full year.

But the Tánaiste said in the Dáil that such a measure would cost people up to 15% extra in their premiums was "grealt axaggerated" adding he couldn't see it "no matter how you do the sums".

The Irish Independent today reports that the government intends that the legislation to force through the higher charges will be enacted in July.

Experts say customers will now be hit with a knock-on hike in premiums – on top of multiple increases already in the past six months from Laya, GloHealth, VHI and Aviva.

The average premium for a family of 2 adults and 2 children has now doubled in the past three years to around €2,500 a year.