By Business & Finance 
Jim Dowdall is an experienced executive within the Irish health insurance and financial services sectors. He has held several high-profile roles, including Managing Director of Aviva Health, CEO of Aviva Ireland, co-founder and CEO of GloHealth and Managing Director of Irish Life Health. He has been the co-founder and CEO of Level Health since 2024.
By Héloïse Chaudot
What inspired you and your co-founders to start your company?
Quite simply, we saw a major gap in a market crying out for real competition. Health insurance is Ireland’s largest insurance sector – by both premium volume and number of customers – yet 2.5 million people were being served by only three providers. That lack of choice meant limited innovation and little incentive to push for better value.
Level Health was created to change that. Our mission from day one has been to bring fresh thinking, genuine innovation and meaningful savings to customers. Just one year after launch, consumers now have a credible alternative to the status quo – and the market is finally beginning to move.
What are your main priorities and goals in your role?
Our ambition is to make Level Health the benchmark for value, transparency and customer-led innovation in Irish health insurance.
Our near-term focus is scaling with pace and discipline. We grow every day by delivering what customers – individuals and corporates – have been asking for: simpler plans, better value, and more access to high-quality care.
A core enabler is our next-generation technology. Because legacy systems don’t hold us back, we can innovate more quickly, automate processes further, and deliver efficiencies that ultimately benefit our customers. The agility of Level Health is one of our strongest competitive advantages.
How do you keep your team/staff motivated?
We built Level Health with intention and ambition in mind – handpicking a team of exceptional people who bring over 200 years of collective health insurance experience, blended with the energy and ambition of top talent from other sectors. Everyone here chose the intensity of a start-up because they believe the industry can be better.
Our culture is open by design. No offices, no hierarchy – just us, with constant communication and weekly all-team discussions. Everyone knows the priorities, and everyone sees the impact of their work.
What motivates our team most is shared ownership of our ambition. We trust each other, move quickly, and share the conviction that we can reshape health insurance in Ireland. That sense of purpose is incredibly powerful.
What are the challenges facing the industry going forward?
The biggest and most immediate challenge is affordability. Health care costs continue to rise globally, and Irish consumers – and employers, who pay over €1 billion in premiums annually – are feeling the pressure.
But equally concerning is the lack of regulatory reform. Several outdated policies actively impede competition, and in doing so, they push costs even higher for customers. This is an area where Level Health is leading the conversation. We are challenging the Department of Health and the Health Insurance Authority to address structural issues that are simply no longer fit for purpose.
A more competitive market is not just good for customers – it is essential for the long-term growth and sustainability of the private health care system.
Are there any major changes you would like to see in your sector?
The most urgent change is reform of the Risk Equalisation Scheme, which expires in 2027. Instead of simply renewing an outdated model, the Government, Department of Health and Health Insurance Authority must redesign it so that it genuinely supports affordability instead of unintentionally penalising younger members and low-cost plans.
Equally, national policy must finally recognise the essential role of the private health system. Public and private care should operate as complementary partners – not competitors. A long-term health strategy that aligns both systems would dramatically improve outcomes for patients across Ireland.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given in business?
Starting a business is never easy, but the best advice I received was to back yourself and take the risk. The challenges will be enormous – but the worst-case scenario almost never happens. What can linger is the regret of never trying.
What advice would you give to others starting out in business?
Your career is a journey, not a straight line. You don’t need the full map at the start – each step equips you for the next. Enjoy it. And if the opportunity arises to join or build a start-up, take it. The learning curve is steep, but the experience is incomparable.
What have been your highlights in business over the past year?
Without question, launching Level Health with Aviva Ireland (our joint venture partner) one year ago was a major milestone – the result of 18 months of intense work. The market response since November 2024 has exceeded expectations, and reaching our Year 1 target in just six months has validated the hard work and belief of our entire team.
What is the best book you’ve ever read (non-business) and why?
Good to Great by Jim Collins and Legacy about the All Blacks both give insights into leadership and culture. But the story of Ernest Shackleton – and Tom Crean – stands out for its extraordinary demonstration of endurance, vision and team spirit. It’s a reminder of what people can achieve under immense pressure.
What is your favourite hobby and why?
I have gravitated toward endurance sports – challenges that require focus, preparation and resilience. Completing ultra-marathons and Ironman triathlons has been incredibly rewarding. There is something powerful about overcoming something that initially feels impossible
What is your mantra for life?
Bet on yourself, seize the moment and try to enjoy the journey.
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