Health ins cancellation

[Elephant]

Hi
I am trying to cancel vhi policy for myself husband and 2 kids.
They are telling me because my renewal date is 1st April 15, I have to pay a government levy charge of 497.00 to cancel policy.
Can someone pls explain if this is right or do I have any way that I can get away with paying it.
Reason I am cancelling is I can't afford it so don't no how I will afford to pay this
Thanks

 

[suarez]

The same happened with my wife and I a couple of years ago with a different health insurer. The VHI are legally entitled to request the 497. I explained our perilous financial position in writing and further explained that as we hadn't made any claim on the policy, that the health insurer had still made a profit on our policy. They responded with a few threatening letters and I haven't heard anything since then. What are the VHI going to do? Chase you through the courts for 497 euros? I sincerely doubt it.