Lara,
The following Irish Life plans are worth considering;
1. Best Ultimate 2; Price 1800(1818pa from 1/1/2018) all public, private(including private room) and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered.
No excess to pay with this plan. Good day to day cover, 75% refund for consultant + gp visits.
This plan is an equivalent plan to your current plan.
2. Best Ultimate Active; price 1657(1731 from 1/1/2018); all public, private(including private room 50 excess) + 3 hi-tech hospitals covered. Small excess 50 just for a private room in a private hospital and for special procedures in a hi-tech hospital. No day case excess. Good day to day cover, 75% refund for consultant and gp visits etc. Very similar to your current plan, with a small excess.
3. Be Fit 3; price 1536 (1579 from 1/1/2018) all public, private(including private room) + 3 hi-tech hospitals covered. Private/hi-tech excess
75 per admission or day case.
Note; There is very good day to day on this plan, the first 2 consultant visits and gp visits fully covered and 50% refund for subsequent visits. This plan is well worth it considering a full refund for 2 visits.
4. 4D Health 4; price 1500, all public, private(including private room) + 3 hi-tech hospitals covered. Private/hi-tech excess 50 per admission or
day case. Good day to day cover, 75% refund for consultant and gp visits etc.
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Child Option
Best value with Irish Life Health for your child is as follows;
Best Ultimate 2; price 350pa; all public, private(including private room) + 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, no excess to pay for admissions or
day case procedures. Cardiac surgery is covered in all public, private and hi-tech hospitals.
Good day to day cover, 75% refund for consultant and gp visits etc.
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NOTE; With a renewal date of 1st May, you may have to wait until then to switch companies as you are locked into a year's contract with VHI.
You could cancel your policy now but there are penalties to pay, you would have to pay the levy amount for the 5 months left on your contract.
This levy is 444pa @ 5 months is 185. Child levy 148pa @ 5 months is 74. Plus a 50euro admin fee per policy; 50 x 2 = 100
Total cancellation fee; 185 + 74 + 100 = 359
Also, if you had a hospital claim during the year, VHI will charge the full years premium, which makes it pointless to switch.
Hope this helps with your decisions.
Regards, Snowyb