People who refuse to buy mandatory cover for basic care under Health Minister James Reilly's Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system would have the payments deducted from their earnings or benefits.

According to a draft white paper on UHI, everyone in the country would be insured for a standard level of care and would pay extra for additional cover such as private hospital accommodation, according to the Irish Times.

This extra of cover would be risk-rated, meaning older subscribers may have to pay more.

UHI would require all members of the public to be insured to the same standard by one of a number of insurance firms.

The draft white paper is to be considered by the Cabinet health sub-committee next week.