Hi JohnnyBonkers,
Welcome to AAM.
OPTION A
There is 1 cheaper plan than PMI 01 10 with better day to day cover and same hospital cover; VHI Company Plan Extra Level 1, price 1548pa.
Another alternative with same hospital cover and 130 refund for consultant visits; VHI PMI 38 14, price 1661pa.
Details as follows;
1. VHI Company Plan Extra Level 1; price 1548pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered; no excess on this plan. Good day to day
cover included, 1 euro excess, refund of 75% for gp visits, consultant visits, etc.
2. VHI PMI 38 14; price 1661pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered; no excess on this plan. Excellent day to day cover on this
plan, 1 euro excess, refund of 130 per consultant visit, 75% refund for gp visits, physio 40 x 12 visits, etc.
Note; as you are over 65 years, there is a 26 week wait in relation to day to day cover only. You would stay on Plan C for day to day cover for the
first 26 weeks while waiting. The difference in cover is the lower excess of 1 euro on the new plans. Plan C has a 100 euro excess for day to day
cover. You never lose any cover while waiting.
The hospital cover is similar on all plans so no waiting applies. You would lose full private room cover on the new plans, but it is still available at
a cost of 50 per night in a private hospital. Blackrock Clinic has all private/single rooms as standard, so no loss there.
As you already mentioned, there is 80% cover for orthopaedic surgery(hip or knee replacement surgery) on the above 2 plans, in private or
hi-tech hospitals. The 20% shortfall would cost 3000 per surgery, as the full cost of surgery is 15,000 approx. However, if you have orthopaedic
surgery in the Blackrock Clinic, there is no shortfall to pay as this hospital does not pass the shortfall charge onto the patient. Something to
keep in mind for future reference.
Comparison in the following link;
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/...vY2siOmZhbHNlLCJwbGFuX2RldGFpbF9pZCI6LTF9fV0=
OPTION B
The following new plan with VHI is well worth considering to make substantial savings overall, without losing cover; VHI PMI 07 10; price 1188pa.
The unique feature on this plan is a capped inpatient excess of 150 x 1 max per year in all private or hi-tech hospitals, regardless of the number
of admissions overall. Details as follows;
3. VHI PMI 07 10; price 1188pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, private/hi-tech excess capped at 150 x 1 max per year for
all admissions(regardless of how many). Day case excess 50 per procedure in private or hi-tech hospitals. There is no excess to pay in any
public hospital. Good day to day cover included, 1 euro excess, refund of 50% for consultant visits, gp visit, physio, dental etc.
80% orthopaedic cover applies, but the 20% shortfall can be avoided if you opt for this surgery in the Blackrock Clinic.
Also, a 26 week waiting time applies to the day to day cover, you would stay on Plan C day to day while waiting.
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/...vY2siOmZhbHNlLCJwbGFuX2RldGFpbF9pZCI6LTF9fV0=
OPTION C
The following VHI plan fully covers a private room in a private hospital at a very good price, if you want that cover. VHI PMI 44 16; price 1102pa.
There is limited day to day cover on this plan, so you would need Healthsteps Silver or Gold if you want day to day cover.
Details as follows;
4. VHI PMI 44 16; price 1102pa; all public, private(including private room fully covered) and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, private/hi-tech excess
150 per admission and per day case. Limited day to day cover, so a seperate day to day extra like Healthsteps Silver or Gold would be required
if you want day to day cover.
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/...vY2siOmZhbHNlLCJwbGFuX2RldGFpbF9pZCI6LTF9fV0=
Healthsteps Silver; price 195pa; Healthsteps Gold; price 339pa; comparison link as follows;
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/...vY2siOmZhbHNlLCJwbGFuX2RldGFpbF9pZCI6LTF9fV0=
Hope this helps with your decision making.
Regards, Snowyb