Health Insurance Drop private health cover for the HSF?

priscilla

Registered User
Messages
266
Hi,
My friend is experiencing financial hardship and has given notice to quit her health policy in the next couple of weeks.
She has taken out a policy with the HSF to cover their needs.
I have concerns as her and her husband are both getting older, now is the time they need to have health cover in place.
At present they have cover with the Garda Medical Fund. Both are 57, both in relatively good health. There is a history of heart and stroke on her side and cancer on his. Personally I think they would be better having even a basic plan with another health provider as well if they could afford it. They also have a 12 year old.
Would appreciate any views on the situation.
Thanks a lot.
 
Hi priscilla,

The Garda Medical Fund plan is priced approx 1700 per person per year.
This plan covers a semi-private room in a private hospital so there are a few alternative plans including this cover.
The following 4 plans are worth considering;

1. VHI One Plan 500; price 760per person; all public and private hospitals covered; private hospital excess capped at 500 x 2 max per year for all
private hospital admissions. Day case excess 150 per procedure. Note; there is just 60% cover for hip and knee replacement surgery on this plan.
This surgery would be fully covered in all the public hospitals. There is no excess to pay in any public hospital.

2. Irish Life Benefit 1 plan; price 776per person; a selected list of public and private hospitals covered. Private hospital excess 500 x 2 max per
year for all admissions, day case excess 150 per procedure. There is a 2000 co-payment for hip or knee replacement surgery in private hospitals.
There is no excess to pay in any public hospital.

3. Irish Life Benefit 2 plan; price 844pa per person; a selected list of public and private hospitals covered.
Private hospital excess 300 x 2 max per year for all admissions, day case excess 150 per procedure. There is a 2000 co-payment for hip or knee replacement surgery in private hospitals. There is no excess to pay in any public hospital.

4. Laya Precision 600 Connect; price 711per person; all public and a selected list of private hospitals covered.
Private hospital excess 600 per admission. Day case excess 175 per procedure. Hip and knee replacement surgery is fully covered in private
and hi-tech hospitals. There is no excess to pay in any public hospital.
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/#/plan-comparison?plansAndProfiles=W3siaWQiOjEsImFnZSI6MjYsIm1pbk1heFByaWNlIjpbMCw2NTAwXSwibWluTWF4RXhjZXNzIjpbMCw2MDBdLCJwbGFuVHlwZSI6MSwicGxhbnNTZWxlY3RlZCI6WzE0MDIsMTI5OSwxNjM1LDE2NTBdLCJwbGFucyI6eyJkYXRhIjpbXSwibG9hZGluZyI6dHJ1ZX0sInBsYW5zU2VsZWN0ZWREYXRhIjpbXSwiYXBwbGljYXRpb24iOnsidG9nZ2xlX3Njcm9sbExvY2siOmZhbHNlLCJwbGFuX2RldGFpbF9pZCI6LTF9fV0=


If you don't have health insurance or if you don't have a medical card, there is a nightly charge of 80 euro per night in public hospitals.
This charge is capped at 10 nights max per year, regardless of the length of the hospital stay, 80 x 10 = 800pa.
This charge also applies to children in public hospitals.
The Hospital Saturday Fund offers a cash payment per night if you are admitted to a public hospital. The amount depends on the level of cover of
HSF plan.

Basic Plans Options
The following 2 VHI plans cover public hospitals only, but are at a minimum price so it keeps some hospital cover open without cancelling altogether.
Details as follows;
1. VHI Public Plus Care plan; price 479 per adult; child price 129pa; all public hospitals covered only.
2. VHI Public Plus Care Day to Day plan; price 509 per adult; child price 143pa all public hospitals only, some day to day covered, refund of 20 per gp, dental, physio visit x 3, 60 per consultant visit.
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/#/plan-comparison?plansAndProfiles=W3siaWQiOjEsImFnZSI6MjYsIm1pbk1heFByaWNlIjpbMCw2NTAwXSwibWluTWF4RXhjZXNzIjpbMCw2MDBdLCJwbGFuVHlwZSI6MSwicGxhbnNTZWxlY3RlZCI6WzEyNzEsMTI3Ml0sInBsYW5zIjp7ImRhdGEiOltdLCJsb2FkaW5nIjp0cnVlfSwicGxhbnNTZWxlY3RlZERhdGEiOltdLCJhcHBsaWNhdGlvbiI6eyJ0b2dnbGVfc2Nyb2xsTG9jayI6ZmFsc2UsInBsYW5fZGV0YWlsX2lkIjotMX19XQ==

Child plan options including private hospitals.
1. VHI One Plan 250; child price 193pa; all public and private hospitals covered, private excess capped at 250 x 2 max per year for all admissions,
day case excess 150 per procedure.

2. Irish Life Benefit plan; child price 190pa; all public, private and Beacon hospital covered, private excess capped at 200 x 2 max per year for all
admissions, day case excess 125 per procedure.

3. VHI One Plan 150; child price 197pa; all public and private hospitals covered, private excess capped at 150 x 2 max per year for all admissions,
day case excess 150 per procedure.
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/...Mb2NrIjpmYWxzZSwicGxhbl9kZXRhaWxfaWQiOi0xfX1d

Regards, Snowyb
 
Last edited:
Are there implications for serving waiting period if you drop cover for a full insurance plan and then say in a few years take out a policy - especially re: preexisting illnesses?
Not sure - just flagging it as a potential reason to maintain cover.
 
Yes, if you cancel health insurance and a few years later take out a policy, there would be a 5 year waiting time before any pre-existing illnesses
would be covered in the future.

Snowyb
 
Thanks so much Snowyb for your great reply. I'll forward on all your information.
Kind regards,
Priscilla
 
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