Family of four renewal

K

Karina

Registered User
Messages
16
Hi there

We've moved back from Australia and took a stab in the dark with health insurance last year - having lost all the years we were covered in Oz because it isn't counted here.

But I still don't have my head around what level of cover is needed in Ireland as you don't seem to get choice of doctor/hospital here by being privately insured.

We have two kids, aged 5 and 7. Both likely to need optical and dental based on family history. Husband and I are freshly 40. He's had back and heart surgery in the past and while everything is "fixed", I find waiting lists here a little frightening should any complications arise down the track.

Currently with GloHealth 300 More, having chosen Optical and Dental, and Family Health Extras. The policy auto-renewed this morning, but I understand I've 14 days to change providers. (Another weird feature of this market - you can't change when you feel like it!) Total cost as is = €2,288.

We are seriously rural - nearest hospitals are in Tullamore or Ballinasloe.

Looking for something cheaper - even with an excess - and any advice greatly appreciated!
 
Karina,

Firstly, you are treated as a new customer, which means that any pre-existing conditions are not covered for 5 yrs. Any new illnesses are covered straight away, no waiting. So, your husbands heart and back conditions would be subject to this 5 year wait.

Based on that information, there are a couple of options open to you.
First option, you can keep the same level of cover, with a 300 excess for private hospital admission, with Glohealth, but at a cheaper price.
1. Kick Off Plus plan; price 825pa; public, selected private and Beacon hospital cover. 300 excess payable per private hospital admission.
or
2. Nurture Plan; price 890pa; public, selected private and Beacon hospital cover. Private hospital excess payable capped at 300 x 2 = 600 per year
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Child Alternative Glohealth Plan;
1. Nurture Plan; price 100 per child; public, selected private hospitals, Beacon hospital cover. Private hospital excess capped at 300 x 2 = 600 -
regardless of the number of private admissions per year.
or
2. Nurture Plus; price 140 per child; public, selected private hospitals, Mater Private and Beacon hospital cover. Private hospital excess capped at
125 x 2 = 250 per year regardless of the number of admissions.
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Note; an excess is only payable on admission to a private or hi-tech hospital for surgery or treatment. There is NO excess payable in any public
hospital. The 2 hospitals nearest to you are both public hospitals.

Whether you are privately insured or not, you can choose what consultant you want to see in any hospital. People in general usually go along with
a recommendation from their GP. But if there is a particular hospital or specialist that you prefer, you just ask your gp for referral to that effect,
making sure beforehand that its included on your health insurance plan.



Second Option
Note; Centres of excellence for heart and back surgery are the hi-tech hospitals in Dublin, Mater Private and Blackrock Clinic. These 2 hospitals
are not included on the Glohealth plans above. However, there are a couple of plans worth considering, especially for your husband, with Laya
Healthcare, that cover both hi-tech hospitals, at a cheaper price. Due to the fact that there's a 5 year wait for pre-existing conditions, it may be
cost effective to choose a lower priced plan, with better cover but with a higher excess until the end of year 3. For year 4 and 5, you could switch
to a lower excess plan so that at the end of year 5, you should be on the type of plan you're happy with, that has no restrictions or waiting attached.

Laya Healthcare
1. Flex 500 Explore; price 721pa; all public, private and hi-tech hospitals covered. Private or hi-tech excess 500 per admission, day case
excess 150. No excess for cardiac surgery in hi-tech hospitals.
or
2. Flex 375 Explore; price 822pa; all public, private and hi-tech hospitals covered. Private or hi-tech excess 375 per admission, day case
excess 125. No excess for cardiac surgery in hi-tech hospitals.
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Child Alternative option with VHI; half price offer at the moment.
1. One Plus Plan; price 137 per child; public, private and hi-tech hospitals covered, private excess 125 per admission. No day to day cover ie
GP, consultant, dental etc.

Child Alternative option with Laya; including day to day cover.
2. Control 300 Create; price 256 per child; public, private and hi-tech hospital covered, private excess 300 per admission. Good day to day cover
refund of 30 per gp visit, 80 per consultant visit, dental 150 per year etc.

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NOTE; children can be with VHI without adults on the policy if you want. An adult is just named on the policy but just the children are insured.
Also, VHI are the only company that do not allow you to change plans outside of renewal date. All other companies allow customers to change to
a different plan with the same company mid year if required.
You can choose different plans for each person if it suits, you don't have to be on the same plan as a family.

There's a lot of information to consider, with plenty of savings to be made.
If you've any further questions, no problem.

Regards, Snowyb
 
Hey Snowyb,

You are a legend! Thank you so much for explaining this in such a straightforward way.

I'm boggled at being able to have the kids on a different plan, but it makes a good deal of sense and is what we'll be doing. The Laya Flex 500 looks like it'll do the job for us, and I'm happier with the higher outpatient cover for the kids on the Control 300 Create.

As as aside, there does seem to be a market opportunity for providers to do more with Dental if the Australian model is any guide... cover here doesn't seem to be worth having for something which is never less than painfully expensive treatment! (Or is it true that people tip over the border for dental because it's cheaper?)

Anyway, better hospital cover will help me sleep easier and I like saving a few hundred euro!

THANKS AGAIN!

All the best,
Karina
 
And it's renewal time already...
We went with the Laya Flex 500 for us parents, and chose the Control 300 for the two kids. With the youngest going through FOUR pairs of glasses this year (an active wee boy) that sure came in handy!
Renewal is suggested at €2200. Is S still monitoring these threads?
 
Karina,

The 'Control 300 Create' plan is still best value for the children, including good day to day cover.
As your renewal date is August, there may be special offers for children for that month. If applicable, this information will be
updated on the HIA website/latest news in the next few weeks.

Regarding your own plan 'Flex 500 Explore', there has been some reduction in hi-tech hospital cover on this plan. It only relates to the 2 hi-tech
hospitals, Mater Private and Blackrock Clinic. There is still full cover for cardiac and orthopaedic joint replacement surgery in these 2 hospitals
but any other surgery is NOT covered. Also there is no day case procedures in these 2 hospitals.
Beacon hi-tech hospital is fully covered for all surgery as before, no change there. Day case procedures in Beacon hospital covered as before.

As an alternative option, in order to maintain full cover as before, even if just for your husband mainly around his potential back problems,
the following plan is worth considering;

Laya Control 600 Connect; price 852pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, private excess 600 per admission, day case excess
175 per private/hi-tech procedure. This plan also has the extra cover for a private room in a private hospital, and is similarly priced as before.
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Again watch out for any new plans or price changes for August 2017 on the Hia website/ latest news.

Regards, Snowyb
 
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