People who don't buy basic health insurance in the future could have the cost taken from their wages or benefits.

That's according to a draft report on Ireland's proposed universal health insurance system, outlined in today's Irish Times.

Under the scheme, everyone in the country would have to have at least a standard level of cover from any insurance company.

 The 86-page white paper on Universal Health Insurance - prepared by Minister James Reilly aims to transform healthcare in Ireland.

The draft document - which will be considered by the Cabinet next week - requires all members of the public to be sinsured to the same standard by one of a number of insurance firms.

It says that if a person fails to buy a UHI policy - the State will do so on their behalf and "recoup the cost at source from income or benefits."

The make-up of the standard package won't be determined until consultation is finished.

But it's believed it will allow people to buy supplementary cover for services not covered - like private rooms in hospitals.

And that supplementary cover will be risk-rated - meaning the cost could increase significantly as the subscriber gets older.