Hi Thompb84,
Welcome to AAM. I'm not sure what kind of budget you have in mind, but there are several options available according to the level of cover included. Just to mention, first of all, there is a 52 week waiting time applied for maternity cover for any plan so it won't cover this pregnancy.
Whatever plan you choose, the new baby can be added to the policy within 13 weeks of birth, for free - until your next renewal date.
To explain briefly, there are 3 levels of hospital cover available under health insurance. Details as follows;
1. Public hospital cover; examples Beaumont Hospital, St James Hospital, Mater, Temple St and Crumlin Childrens Hospital etc etc.
2. Private hospital cover; examples Bons Secours Glasnevin, St Vincents Private Elm Park, Santry Sports Clinic, Hermitage Clinic Lucan and others.
3. Hi-tech hospital cover; examples Blackrock Clinic, Mater Private hospital, Beacon Hospital.
Similarly there are;
1. basic plans - public hospital cover only - price range 400 -500 + per person.
2. mid-level plans - public and private hospital cover included - price range 600 - 900 approx.
3. Plans including all 3 levels - public, private and hi-tech hospital cover - starting at 661 + ( price depends on the excess payable on each plan,
the higher the excess the cheaper the price)
As you are both young and healthy, you could just opt for a basic plan, and at any stage in the future, you can upgrade to a private cover plan
if you want.
Alternatively, one of you could opt for a plan from the Flex Explore range with Laya, which includes public, private and hi-tech hospital cover with an excess of 500 or 250. You can both be on different plans if you choose.
Options worth considering as follows;
1. Future Protect; price 495; public hospital cover only,
2. Flex 500 Explore; price 661pa; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover included. 500 excess payable if admitted to a private or hi-tech hospital, no excess payable in a public hospital. Extra 10% discount online at the moment.
3. Flex 250 Explore; price 854pa; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover included. 250 excess payable if admitted to a private or hi-tech
hospital, no excess payable in a public hospital. Extra 10% discount online at the moment.
4. Simply Connect; price 999pa; public, private and hi-tech hospital cover included. excess 150 per private admission. no excess payable in a
public hospital. Good day to day cover included, 50% refund for gp visits etc.
5. Glohealth Kick Off Plan; price 540pa (reducing to 510 from 1st March 2016) public hospital cover only, with a unique feature to upgrade to a private cover plan Kick Off Upgrade Plan 840 if surgery in a private hospital is required at any time in the future.
6. Assure Protect; price 420pa new plan launching on 1 March 2016, public hospital cover only, full details not available yet.
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7. VHI One Plan 250; price 819pa; public, private and some hi-tech hospital cover, 250 private excess,
8. Kick Off Plus; price 825pa; public, private and some hi-tech hospital cover, 300 private excess.
9. Nurture Plan; price 890pa; public, private and some hi-tech cover. 300 private excess.
10. Zest Plan; price 890pa; public, private and some hi-tech cover, 300 private excess.
11. Bloom Plus Plan; price 900pa; public,private and some hi-tech cover, 300 private excess.
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A selection of plans to choose from, according to your budget.
Regards, Snowyb