Irish Life out in front to buy up Aviva health cover division

Group expected to become major force in health insurance

Company plans to buy up 49 per cent of GloHealth it doesn’t already own

Irish Life, which is owned by Canadian giant Great-West Lifeco, has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire the Irish health insurance division of Aviva, the London Stock Exchange listed insurance company.

The move is expected to precede Irish Life buying out the 49 per cent of GloHealth it does not already own to create a major new force in health insurance.

Aviva’s Irish health division has about 300,000 customers and is 30 per ...