A total of 21,000 people have given up their health insurance in the first quarter of this year, new figures show.

According to the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) there has been a 61,000 reducution in the number of people with private health insurance in the 12 months to March of this year.

Just over 45% of the population now has health insurance, compared to 51% in 2008.

The HIA says the amount paid out on claims by health insurers laast year increased by 9% to €1.856 million. The averag eclaimpaid perperson increased by 14% to €911.

The Authority says all four insurers have recently upped their premia by amounts varying from between 4% and 15%.