With a renewal date in October, you avoid the increases from 1st November and you can also avail of the kids offers which end on 1st Nov.
Just to explain briefly - under private health insurance, there are 3 levels of hospital cover available
1. Public hospital cover; all the main public hospitals, examples Mater Public, St James, Beaumont, Temple st and Crumlin Childrens hospitals etc.
2. Private hospital cover; Bons Secours, St Vincents Private, Hermitage, Galway Clinic and others.
3. Hi-tech hospital cover; Blackrock Clinic, Mater Private, Beacon.
The plan you are on at the moment fully covers you for Public hospital cover only. It also offers 50% cover for Private hospitals which is useless, as
you would have to pay for half the cost of surgery. This could run into thousands which really defeats the purpose of having health insurance.
However, there are plenty of alternative options at cheaper prices which cover all three levels of hospital cover including public, private and hi-tech.
Plans worth considering including 3 levels of hospital cover;
Note: Public hospitals are fully covered( no charge on admission for surgery or day case)
Private hospitals - there is a charge of 500 on admission for surgery, day case charge is 150.
Hi tech hospitals - Cardiac and orthopaedic surgery fully covered(no charge), all other surgery covered with 500 excess charge + 200 per night.
Day case 150 charge.
1. Laya Flex 500 Explore; price 661pa; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover, limited day to day cover.
2. Laya Flex 500 Plus; price 772pa; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover, good day to day cover.
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Plans worth considering including 2 levels of hospital cover; public and private hospital cover
1. VHI One Plan 500; price 682pa, public and private hospital cover, excess charge 500 per private hospital admission, limited day to day cover.
2. VHI One Plan 250; price 797pa, public and private hospital cover, excess charge 250 per private hospital admission, limited day to day cover.
3. Laya Advantage 500 Explore; price 612pa; public,selected private hospital cover, cardiac + orthopaedic hi-tech cover, excess 500 per private admission, limited day to day cover.
4. Laya Advantage 500 Plus; price 720pa; public,selected private hospital cover, cardiac + orthopaedic hi-tech cover, excess 500 per private admission, good day to day cover.
5. Laya Advantage 250 Explore; price 741pa; public,selected private hospital cover, just orthopaedic hi-tech cover, excess 250 per private admission, limited day to day cover.
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Public Hospital Cover Only
1. Laya Future Protect; price 495pa; public hospital cover only, limited day to day cover.
2. VHI One Plan Starter; price 530pa; public hospital cover only, limited day to day cover.
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Childrens Options
1. Laya Essential Connect Health; price 268; Offer pay for one child and the rest of the children go free. Public and private hospital cover 125 excess charge per private hospital admission. Limited day to day cover.
2. VHI One Plan Choice; price 124.72 per child; 3 levels of hospital cover; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover. 125 excess per private admission. Limited day to day cover.
Note; there are no private childrens hospitals in Ireland but some public hospitals have private childrens wards and the hi-tech hospitals offer a list of childrens surgery, ie tonsillectomy etc which is covered on this plan.
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There are plenty of alternative cheaper plans on offer, with much better hospital cover than your current plan.
Regards, Snowyb