Profits at BUPA have been dented by its exit from the Irish market last year, although its core insurance business continues to grow, as the health insurer expands its presence in other markets outside the UK.

Pre-tax profit for the six months to June 30 dipped by 1 per cent to £165m on revenue from continuing operations that increased 28 per cent to £2.67bn. Underlying profit, which strips out one-off gains or expenses, fell 9 per cent to £156.5m.

In July of 2008, the company had to exit the Irish insurance market after a court in the republic upheld the need for "community rating" in private health insurance, which requires insurers to charge the same premiums for all customers regardless of their health profile, writes John O'Doherty