VHI VHI healthplus access (old plan B)

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geriatric

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Hi

My brother has the VHi healthplus access for himself and his wife and the premium quoted is €1819 per person. Also their 26 year old son is on the VHI One plan policy costing €1006.

Is their better value out their for similar cover please?

Thanks

Gerry
 
Hi geriatric,

A similar plan to One Plan is called VHI PMI 37 13; PRICE 1011pa; Lower inpatient excess 100 vs 125 also lower outpatient excess 125 vs 250.
Alternative with Laya is called Simply Connect; price 999pa; or Laya Flex 175 Explore; price 899pa.

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Regarding VHI Healthplus Access(plan B), this plan has no inpatient hospital excess which means that there is no charge for any hospital admissions or day case procedures regardless of how many times in a year. A plan with no inpatient hospital excess is usually recommended
if a person has ongoing health conditions that may require several hospital admissions or day case treatment every year.
This plan also includes extra cardiac level 2 cover called a tavi procedure - this is valve surgery by keyhole if a person is not suitable for full open heart surgery.( *Note; this extra cardiac cover was only added to Plan B from 2012 onwards).

1. Alternative Options; The only alternative plan including the extra level 2 cardiac cover is called Health Plus Excess (old Plan B Excess)
This plan is identical to Plan B, except the only difference being an inpatient excess of 75 per hospital admission or day case; price 1598 per person.

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Alternative plans with NO level 2 cardiac TAVI cover. These plans have no inpatient hospital excess.
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; if either adult is over 50years, Vhi apply a waiting time for the outpatient cover only on this plan, they would have plan B outpatient cover
while waiting.
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Alternative plans; Similar hospital cover; NO level 2 cardiac TAVI cover; including a 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; again if either adult is over 50 years, VHI apply a waiting time for the outpatient cover only on this plan, Plan B outpatient cover applies while waiting.
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There's plenty of alternatives on offer, at better prices, if it suits their individual circumstances and health needs.

Regards, Snowyb
 
Last edited:
Thanks again Snowyb for such a detailed response.

I'll pass this on and see what he thinks, particularly in relation to the extent of the cardiac cover. The cost of the Access plans seem expensive, are VHI taking advantage of long term Plan B customers unwillingness to change?

Gerry
 
The Access plans were expensive even before this extra cardiac cover was included. People are under the false illusion that because it is more expensive, it must be better. Many people won't change as they don't understand the difference between plans. They err on the side of caution and this suits VHI fine. When everything is boiled down, there's very little difference regarding hospital cover, between plans. Sometimes the only difference is a hospital excess or extra outpatient cover.
The Access plans have very poor outpatient cover, with a 300euro excess, which means day to day expenses must exceed 300 before a refund
applies. You would think that good outpatient cover, with a 1 euro excess, would be standard at that price range.

Snowyb
 
My vhi policy is not up until next March I rang them to downgrade as its to expensive I was told it cant be done until next renewal has anyone else had this
problem

Shelly
 
Hi shelly mulvaney,

Welcome to AAM. Unfortunately this is the case, VHI are the only provider who don't allow a customer to change to a different plan with VHI during the year. They insist that you must wait until next renewal date to make any changes, they allow 14 days cooling off time after renewal. All the other health insurance providers accommodate customers to switch plans with the same company at any time during the year. Here's further
information about this from the Health Insurance Authority website;

http://www.hia.ie/consumer-information/switching-health-insurance-plan-provider

Snowyb
 
snowyb said:
Hi shelly mulvaney,

Welcome to AAM. Unfortunately this is the case, VHI are the only provider who don't allow a customer to change to a different plan with VHI during the year. They insist that you must wait until next renewal date to make any changes, they allow 14 days cooling off time after renewal. All the other health insurance providers accommodate customers to switch plans with the same company at any time during the year. Here's further
information about this from the Health Insurance Authority website;

http://www.hia.ie/consumer-information/switching-health-insurance-plan-provider

Snowyb
Click to expand...
Thanks Snowyb for your excellent contributions. Just a small oint in regard to your post 4 it is said expenses must exceed 300 Euro before a refund is made. I assume this relates to benefits which are allowed and the actual expenses incurred would be far greater.
 
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