Hi trojan,
Re your daughters choice, a better option is the VHI Plan PMI 37 13; price 1011; lower inpatient excess 100 vs 125, also lower outpatient
excess 125 vs 250.
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Regarding your own plan VHI Health Plus Access( Plan B) - the main extra benefits on this plan are as follows;
1. Your plan has no inpatient hospital excess. This means if you are admitted to a private or hi-tech hospital for a stay or day case, there is
no charge payable, regardless of how many admissions you have in a year. This type of plan is usually recommended if you have ongoing
health conditions, with potential regular admissions or day case treatments.
2. Your plan has 90% cover for orthopaedic surgery -( hip or knee replacements) in private or hi-tech hospitals.
Other VHI plans would have 80% cover for this surgery. However, the hi-tech hospitals are waiving the 10% or 20% shortfall for this type of surgery. So, in effect, this is not an issue.
3. Your plan has 90% Level 2 Cardiac cover in Hi tech hospitals( Blackrock Clinic and Mater Private Hospital).
This is specialised valve surgery (Tavi) using keyhole, if a person is not suitable for open heart surgery. This is subject to certain criteria.
The only alternative plan, cheaper than Plan B, including this type of cover is VHI Health Plus Excess.
Disadvantages of Health Plus Access;
This plan has an outpatient excess of 300. This means that allowable expenses for consultants, gp visits, x-rays etc must exceed 300 before
you're in a refund position. An ideal outpatient excess is 1 euro, so a refund would apply straight away depending on the outpatient cover on a plan.
Alternative options with VHI including Level 2 Cardiac Surgery(Tavi).
1. Health Plus Excess; price 1598 per adult, only difference to Plan B is this plan has a hospital excess of 75 euro. This is payable on admission to a private or hi-tech hospital for an inpatient stay or day case. Otherwise, its identical to Plan B.
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Alternative options with VHI - No hospital excess - No cover for Level 2 Cardiac Surgery
1. One Plan Extra; price 1349 per adult. Similar hospital cover, 80% orthopaedic cover, similar outpatient cover 300 excess.
2. Company Plan Extra Level 3; price 1480 per adult; Similar hospital cover, 80% orthopaedic cover, excellent outpatient cover 1 euro excess,
*Note; VHI will apply a 2 year waiting time for the outpatient cover on this plan because you are both over 65 years. You would stay on the
Plan B outpatient cover while waiting.*
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Alternative options with VHI - if the 3 differences listed above don't matter to you.
( no level 2 cardiac tavi cover, 80% orthopaedic cover, including hospital excess)
1. Plan PMI 37 13; price 1011 per adult; good hospital cover (100 excess), limited outpatient cover (125 excess).
2. Plan PMI 36 13; price 1175 per adult; good hospital cover (75 excess), good outpatient cover ( 1 euro excess).
* NOTE; VHI apply 2 year waiting time for the outpatient cover on PMI 36 13 because you are over 65 years.
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Hope this explains things a bit clearer to help with your decision making.
Regards, Snowyb