In addition to increasing premiums, Aviva have introduced new co-payments on many of their health insurance policies. (Or to quote their literature "reviewed our existing product suite and simplified our plan range to make it easier for our customers". Easier for their customers to pay more for less cover, that is.)
So now when a customer renews certain policies not only does the annual rate increase but if the person ends up needing orthopaedic surgery they will have to pay an extra 2000 euro as a co-payment to have their operation in a private hospital. This seems like a cynical move to make health insurance less attractive to older people who are more likely to need orthopaedic procedures. The HIA say it is accepted practice at renewal time.
The policy renewal proposals can be quite difficult to understand, especially if someone is not familiar with the jargon and if you have older relatives renewing a policy, you might want to help them check their level of cover and use the HIA website to get the best deal possible. Some might be happy with a co-payment of 2k but not if they only discover it when they hear they need a hip replacement.
So now when a customer renews certain policies not only does the annual rate increase but if the person ends up needing orthopaedic surgery they will have to pay an extra 2000 euro as a co-payment to have their operation in a private hospital. This seems like a cynical move to make health insurance less attractive to older people who are more likely to need orthopaedic procedures. The HIA say it is accepted practice at renewal time.
The policy renewal proposals can be quite difficult to understand, especially if someone is not familiar with the jargon and if you have older relatives renewing a policy, you might want to help them check their level of cover and use the HIA website to get the best deal possible. Some might be happy with a co-payment of 2k but not if they only discover it when they hear they need a hip replacement.