Private Health Insurance: what difference does it make?

Knorp

Registered User
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33
Hi all,

I have been living in Ireland for more than one year and I took health insurance for me and my wife because I was advised to do so. In my country the public health system is far from being perfect but anyway you can stay perfectly without private health insurance. When I came here I realised that all my colleagues had it and it seemed to be something really necessary to have.

However, I would like to know what difference it really makes because I've heard dreadful stories about people going to A&E and having to wait for many hours although they had private health insurance. First of all, I've heard that private hospitals don't have A&E sections: is that true (in my country they do, that's why I'm asking)? Secondly, does it make any difference when you go to A&E if you have private health insurance?

If you have to receive in-patient treatment, are there generally speaking good chances to get a private room? I'm entitled to that type of accomodation but if realistically what I'm going to get is a semi-private room maybe I should move to a cheaper health product. Another question that I have is: what's the alternative if you don't have private health insurance? I mean, what do you get (accomodation) if you don't pay private health insurance (I'm paying every month a good amount of PRSI)?

I ask all those questions because I'm paying a quite high premium for a theoretically very good health product but I want to know if it is really worthwhile to pay that amount of money or maybe I would get the same result with a cheaper alternative...

Thank you in advance (I know there are a few questions).
 
The reason I have health insurance is not for emergency cases (such as you have described), but more for non urgent cases. I have heard of too many stories of people waiting months for a non urgent (or even urgent) scans or tests, only to find they have very advanced cancer, or some other problem that needed imediate treatment. I'm not willing to take a chance on that happening to my family.
 
The reason I have health insurance is not for emergency cases (such as you have described), but more for non urgent cases. I have heard of too many stories of people waiting months for a non urgent (or even urgent) scans or tests, only to find they have very advanced cancer, or some other problem that needed imediate treatment. I'm not willing to take a chance on that happening to my family.

You are right in that and, of course, I completely agree and that is my reasoning as well. But only a part of it. What I would like to know is if someone could tell me if it is worthwhile to pay for one of the "high cost" health products (private room, accomodation on private hospital, etc.) or it is fair enough to have a less expensive one. I know it hugely depends on each one's circumstances, but I would like to get some advice on that. I have heard lately different stories that have made me think that maybe I'm wasting money (part of it I mean, not all). I mean, for example, now I'm entitled to private room on public hospitals but if people here tell me that you have an 80% chances of not getting a private room (it's just an example), then it would probably make more sense to go for a cheaper alternative given that you are most likely to get semi-private anyway.

Thanks in advance. :)
 
On principle, I do not have private health insurance. i did have occasion to have to attend a doctor to arrange for a ultrasound scan. Rather than wait months, I paid it to be done privately (€50) and got it done two weeks later. When you add up the cost of paying for the dubious benefits of private health cover over a number of years, you could find that actually paying on the nose for treatment is cheaper IMHO
 
I agree that for emergency cases i dont think health insurance is much use. I was on VHI Option B plan and had 2 non emergency surgeries. I could have gone to a private hospital but i opted for the public as with the surgeons schedule i would get it done quicker there. All in all the surgeries cost over €6,000 all covered i only had to pay some consultants fees.

I was entitled to a semi private bed but ended up in a public ward due to shortages of beds but i didnt mind, getting the operations done quickly was more important.

I cancelled my insurance about a year ago bu am going to start again as i do feel it is worth it should anything happen i can get treated quicker.
I would opt for a basic package as opossed to a full private room in private hospital.
Like Welafrite said you can paid for certain private treatments like scans that wont cost the earth but in the event of you needing more specialist treatment, surgery the cost could run into thousands.
 
First of all, I've heard that private hospitals don't have A&E sections=
It's true in the case of major injuries e.g. road accidents. However, a number of hospitals in Dublin (and Galway, I think) now have private A&E sections. Thes will deal with more minor items e.g. broken limbs, chest pains etc.
 
Hi,

There are some interesting comments (thank you all for that). However, I don't think anyone has yet made any comment in relation to accomodation availability. Generally speaking, are you likely to get a private room or would you in reality normally get only semi-private accomodation? Is the situation different on public and private hospitals?

Thanks for your answers. :)
 
Well, in general, public accommodation is more prevalent than semi-private which is more prevalent than private so obviously your chances are somehwhat determined by supply in the first instance.
 
Well, in general, public accommodation is more prevalent than semi-private which is more prevalent than private so obviously your chances are somehwhat determined by supply in the first instance.
Could you expand this a bit more? I ask you this because I have absolutely no idea, as I'm a foreigner and have never been to a hospital here. Let's talk about a public hospital: what percentage of semi-private and private rooms does it have? What are the chances to get each of them?

Thanks a million.
 
having private health insurance does not guarantee a private room, or a semi-private room. the type of room you get depends on whats available at the time of admission to hospital. The health insurance companies have no control over the type of room you get.
 
having private health insurance does not guarantee a private room, or a semi-private room. the type of room you get depends on whats available at the time of admission to hospital. The health insurance companies have no control over the type of room you get.
Yes, of course, I already knew that (it's obvious). But what I want to know is what chances you have of getting private or semi-private: an estimation based on people's experience. I would like to know if people normally get the accomodation type they are entitled to (private/semi-private). What I'm wondering is if it makes sense to pay extra for something better (in case you need it) or in reality (statistically) it is a waste of money because you would normally get the same as someone paying less. I hope this clarifies what I'm asking. Thanks.
 
But what I want to know is what chances you have of getting private or semi-private: an estimation based on people's experience. I would like to know if people normally get the accomodation type they are entitled to (private/semi-private). What I'm wondering is if it makes sense to pay extra for something better (in case you need it) or in reality (statistically) it is a waste of money because you would normally get the same as someone paying less. I hope this clarifies what I'm asking. Thanks.

I don't think there are any statistics on % that actually get a private/semi-private bed that they are insuring themselves for rather than a public bed. And even if posters here tell you their experiences, how will you form a judgement as to whether you should pay health insurance or not.

As I said in my earlie post, on principal, I do not pat voluntary health insurance in the eternal hope that this state will provide the proper health cover for what I do pay for...involuntarily!
 
You absolutely do NOT get special treatment in a public A&E if you have private health insurance. That would be uterally disgusting.

Private hospitals do in fact have A&E departments eg the Beacon hospital and there are clinics like the VHI Swiftcare, however these places nearly always refer patients with abnormal results to public A&Es.

You will get the same quality of care in a public hospital as in a private one, some say better.

Health Insurance is beneficial mainly for reimbursement of medical costs.

As in your country, you will get top quality care here without private insurance.
 
Some time ago I attended my GP who referred me to a consultant in the Mater Hospital. I rang up to make an appointment. I could see him next week if I went privately or sometime next year if I wanted to go publicly.

Seen the consultant a week later and was admitted to the Mater Private for an investigation. In and out in a day as a day patient. Admitted a week later for a small procedure again in the Mater Private. Stayed two days and was discharged.

Developed an infection within two days of being discharged. Naturally I went back to the Mater Private. Sorry we don't deal with this, you will have to attend A&E in the public part of the Mater.

Talk abut a culture shock. I had heard that it was grim but it was much worse than I imagined. It was like Forte Appache. Crowds of sick people everywhere. No beds etc

There was a wino lying on a mattress on the floor in te waiting room. He was hooked up to a drip and the nurse was taking his blood pressure. She then came over to me an proceeded to take mine. (Wash her hands before she came near me - you must be joking).

I eventually was admitted and got a bed. I spent nearly two weeks in a public ward occupying a public bed with an infection that I had picked up as a private patient.

IMO, the whole system is being run purely for the benefit of the the vested interests. The consultants are on a massive salary from the public purse but they are free to carry out as much private work as they want. Is there any other employee anywhere else in the world with such a massive salary that is permitted to only work part time for their employer.

I'm sure that the masters of the private sector Mssrs O'Leary, Desmond, Goodman, Quinn etc wouldn't tolerate this or a second.


Murt
 
Some time ago I attended my GP who referred me to a consultant in the Mater Hospital. I rang up to make an appointment. I could see him next week if I went privately or sometime next year if I wanted to go publicly.
Shouldn't this be different these days what with the NTPF and all that?
 
Shouldn't this be different these days what with the NTPF and all that?

No. As far as I know your time on the waiting list only starts after you have been diagnosed by the consultant.

Plus, lots of this NTPF work is carried out by the same consultants who should have treated you as a public patient in a public ward. There is no incentive for consultants to do their utmost to clear the number of people on their public waiting lists. If they did somehow manage to do it they would be killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

In my own case, I wonder how many public patients were not treated/left on waiting lists because I was taking up a public bed with an infection I had picked up in a private hospital.


Murt
 
Knorp - I have only 5 examples of the Irish healthcare system.

Myself - went to A & E in Galway for tetanus infection after cutting my foot on glass at a weekend. Waiting 5 hours to be seen, A & E was like a scene from a war zone. Don't remember ever paying anything for this.

Elderly lady over 70 with no medical card and no private insurance had something on her back that had to be removed. Given appointment 2 weeks later, surgery done in a day. No bill ever received. Mallow hospital.

Lady with first baby in Erinville (spelling) Cork, medical card, so called public patient. 1st class treatment all the way. Midwives in particular brilliant, then 2nd child in the new hospital in Cork, this year, completely different scenario. Midwives too busy etc. Put in room with women who already had given birth as they didn't believe her the baby was coming. It was, she nearly gave birth on the toilet - I kid you not. The next day the ladies all asked her was she the one with the quick birth.

Lady with 2nd baby in Galway University hospital, with VHI, private consultant, he came from a dinner party, when it was all over - to get his fee, was put in a public ward even though entitled to private as all the privates had been given to emergency scenarios (women who had caesarean/difficult births etc). Ward had a lady from a certain section of Irish society who tend to have lots of babies, this young lady was screaming to be let out of the hospital even though they were telling her she risked her life and the babies. About 20 of her family was in attendance, including kids running around wildly and my sister left the hospital in distress as she could not breastfeed, change or do anything in privacy and had given birth to a huge baby......... In particular I remember the beds were very close together and lots of kids were running in and out.

Elderly lady from Mayo, went to public hospital, don't know how long this appointment took but told she needed 2 hip replacements, 2 year waiting list. Result: as she had no money her children paid for her to go private and it was done practically immediately.

Now it's up to you to decide what you want to do. Personally I'd save the private healthcare fees and use it for when you need an operation/test etc particularly if you are young.
 
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On principle, I do not have private health insurance. i did have occasion to have to attend a doctor to arrange for a ultrasound scan. Rather than wait months, I paid it to be done privately (€50) and got it done two weeks later. When you add up the cost of paying for the dubious benefits of private health cover over a number of years, you could find that actually paying on the nose for treatment is cheaper IMHO

The problem with this is that, if after your scan or consultant's appointment (paid for privately) you then need treatment, there will be problems getting back onto a public waiting list for that treatment. And even if you had the funds to pay for an operation, as far as I know, surgeons will not permit this, as in the event of something going wrong the bill could run to hundreds of thousands even for a simple procedure.
 
Let's talk about a public hospital: what percentage of semi-private and private rooms does it have? What are the chances to get each of them?

Thanks a million.

Personally, I wouldn't base the decision on whether or not to take out private health insurance on what type of bed you might get. It's far more relevant to if and when you will be diagnosed and treated. For example, a few years ago when I didn't have VHI, my son was referred to a consultant by our gp. As we didn't have insurance, it was to be an estimated 3 years waiting to see the consultant. I rang all the relevant consultants' secretaries in the area, and each of them would see him privately within 2 weeks. Thank god the problem passed and we actually cancelled teh appointment as recommended by our gp, but if you need to see a consultant, there is no comparison.
 
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