I’m glad to report the HIA have made this plain as day, no confusing shenanigans like on their website.The increase is 2%.Per year.That’s right, for every year you don’t have health insurance, that first-time buyers quote increases by 2%.Every. Single. Year.The rationale behind the Lifetime Community Rating is to entice you to take out cover when you’re younger and less likely to claim. Under this system, a 40-year-old who has had health insurance since they were 30 would pay the same premium as a 30-year-old. But a 40-year-old buying for the first time would pay a lot more.Okay, I know what you’re thinking. 2% isn’t that much but consider this:At 35 it’s 2% but fast forwards to 37 and it’s now 2%+2%+2%= 6%, and it doesn’t quit.The maximum loadings increase is 70%. Nice of them to cap it but by golly, 70% is knee buckling.Don’t fear, while they lump onto the old and wrinkled, they reward the young and beautiful.If you get your health insurance before the age of 25 you could actually get a reduction! Wahey for being a young’un (then again around zero 25 years olds in Ireland have health insurance).