Health Insurance Alternative to Aviva Health Plan 13

Just posting for a friend whose policy is due for renewal on 1st March.

She is with Aviva (Health Plan 13) and her daughter who will be 18 in November (she is on Family Value Plan). Aviva are quoting €1,437.80 (1238.80 + 199) for renewal.

Both hold a full medical card.

Daughter visits consultant about 3 times each year at about €120 per visit and on top of that there are often blood tests of €165 per visit plus a day case excess of €125 each visit.

Are there any alternative policies available with a lesser day case excess or are there better value policies out there which provide similar cover.

Thanks.

Hi Offaly Exile,

Laya would have best alternative options, as they are not strict regarding day case excess changes - normally a two year wait would apply before a lower excess comes into effect. Laya apply the new lower excess straight away.

Adult Option
1. Simplicity Plan; price 1087pa, same hospital cover as before( including extra cover, private room in a private hospital), max hospital excess
100 x 2, day case excess 50 per private hospital visit, good day to day cover, 100 excess, 50% refund for consultants etc.

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Daughter Option
1. Simply Connect Plus; price 277pa, better hospital cover than before, max hospital excess 150 x 1 per year, lower day case excess 50 per visit - this will make a big difference to her, good day to day cover 50% refund for consultant visits etc - max day to day refund 500 per year per person.

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The above prices apply from 1 March 2016.

Regards, Snowyb

Snowyb - Thank you for taking the time to reply.

With regard to option for daughter perhaps you could clarify -

Daughter visits Consultant in Beaumont Private and pays €120 for that visit and pays €165 for blood tests. Presumably mother can claim back 50% i.e. €60 on consultants fees at end of year. Regarding blood tests , are they covered under 'day case' ? i.e. mother can claim back €115 (165 less 50 excess) at end of year. Is this correct ?

Thanks again.

Yes, 50% refund applies for consultants fees; 50% of 120 = 60 refund per visit.

As far as I know, regarding blood tests, there is another consultant involved here included in this fee, so 50% refund will apply to the amount relating to the consultant. You could clarify this with Laya in more detail.

You mentioned a day case excess fee of 125 per visit, the day case excess fee with Laya is 50 per visit. This fee is payable if you have a procedure done in a private hospital without staying overnight.

She would have to keep all receipts from 1st March 2016 until 28th Feb 2017 and then send in a claim for day to day expenses, with the relevant form completed with all medical receipts attached.

Hope this explains things more clearly.

Regards, Snowyb

Thanks again for this info. which I will pass on.

I appreciate the time taken to reply.

One year on and I would appreciate someones help again.

My friend went with Leya Simplicity Plan and her daughter went with Simply Connect Plus as suggested by Snowyb.

She recently received a renewal notice effective from 1st March 2017. Her quote remains at €1,087 but her daughter's(who turned 18 in November 2016) has jumped to €605 (which is an increase of €328).

My friend is happy enough with her quote but is wondering is there a cheaper policy out there for her daughter. As advised last year her daughter has asthma and as a result visits a consultant about 3 times each year at about €120 per visit and on top of that there are often blood tests of €165 per visit.

Thanks.

Offaly Exile,
Could your friends daughter have her bloods done by the GP? If she has a medical card there should be no charge.

Offaly Exile,

VHI are best priced for young adult plans at the moment. The following plans are worth considering for the 18 yr old;
1. PMI 12 11; price 360; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover, day to day cover included - first 125 not allowed.
2. PMI 26 12; price 402; Public, private and some hi-tech hospital cover, day to day cover included, 1 euro excess 75 refund per consultant visit.
3. PMI 25 11; price 521; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover, good day to day cover - 100 per consultant visit refund.

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The 18 yr old can switch to VHI while her mother can stay with Laya Simplicity.

Regards, Snowyb