VHI Healthplus extra versus PMI36 13

T

Trout Fishing

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Hi guys,

Cross eyed at comparison sites at present and would welcome a knowlegable summary comment or two.

Long term member VHI- 30 years.... old Plan B options...now called PMI 36 13.

Need to reduce costs but want to stay as close to the existing cover as possible- excess ok....

Conscious of cariac as had stent previously and ortho as wife has arthritis etc... other than that not hung up on the top hospitals....is PMI 36 the best comparable option or am I missing some other VHI one.

thanks
 
Hi Trout Fishing,

Welcome to AAM.
Regarding VHI PMI 36 13, ortho cover is 80% in private or hi-tech hospitals. The 20% shortfall would be 2- 3k for a hip or knee replacement.
If you wanted to retain 100% ortho cover with VHI, the following option would be worth considering;

1. VHI Health Access; price 1684pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, 100% ortho cover in private/hi-tech hospitals,
there is an excess of 125 for private/hi-tech admissions and day case procedures. Day to day cover included, the first 100 not allowed.
[broken link removed]

NOTE; Regarding ortho cover, the hi-tech hospital Blackrock Clinic does not charge the 20% shortfall onto the patient, so if you choose this
hospital there is no extra cost involved. This may be an option if considering a plan with 80% ortho cover.


The following selection of VHI plans have 80% ortho cover and full cardiac cover worth considering. It depends what level of excess you are happy with as to what plan is suitable for you. Details as follows;

2. VHI PMI 44 16; price 1102pa; all public, private(including private room) and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 150 per admission and per day case in private/hi-tech hospitals. Limited day to day cover. 80% ortho cover. Full cardiac cover.

3. VHI PMI 43 16; price 1171pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 150 per admission and 50 per day case procedure.
Good day to day cover, 50% refund for consultant, gp visits etc. 80% ortho cover and full cardiac cover.

4. VHI PMI 02 10; Price 1295pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 125 per admission and day case procedure.
Good day to day cover, 75% gp refund, 50% consultant visit etc. 80% ortho cover and full cardiac cover.

5. VHI PMI 35 13; Price 1303pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 100 per admission and day case procedure. Good
day to day cover, 50% refund per consultant, gp visit etc. 80% ortho cover and full cardiac cover.

6. VHI PMI 36 13; Price 1349pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 75 per admission and day case procedure. Good day
to day cover, 50% refund per consultant, gp visit etc. 80% ortho cover and full cardiac cover.

7. VHI 01 10; Price 1588pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, no excess on this plan for any admissions or day case procedures.
Good day to day cover, 70 refund per consultant visit, 35 gp refund etc, 80% ortho cover and full cardiac cover.

[broken link removed]

Regards, Snowyb
 
Hi Snowyb,
Many thanks for a comprehensive reply. Was travelling yesterday so only reading now- apologies.

I will do the detailed comparison this pm and see, but certainly two jump out at me as better value than current albeit with changes.

Can I trouble you one bit further to ask if VHI Health Access one of the old plans? Like Plan B options... if so, is it caught up in the paying too much for whats available otherwise...?

I had identified PMI 36 as looking ok so I think it will be between both of these.

I have a top up policy- Gold for 700 euros for us both...which I believe is not efficient given other policy changes- do you have a comment on this?

Finally, re a comment to someone else- I tried to get a broker to review but left it too late...I'd happily pay the 125-150 to cut through the dreadful minefields.... Are you interested in going into business?... I'd happily sign up.!!

Again many thanks for your mail..
 
Trout Fishing,

VHI Health Access is the cheapest VHI plan available with full orthopaedic cover for hip or knee replacement surgery in private hospitals.
Otherwise, plans like PMI 36 13 with 80% ortho cover would mean paying a shortfall of 2k - 3k depending on the private hospital in question for a hip or knee replacement surgery.

VHI Health Access also has level 2 cardiac cover as before on HealthPlus Extra. This category covers a TAVI procedure which is heart valve
replacement surgery by keyhole only if a person is not otherwise suitable for open heart surgery. VHI apply strict criteria to this type of surgery
where the consultant has to make a case, subject to VHI approval, just because a person has this cover does not necessarily mean it will be
approved.

There is no level 2 cardiac cover on any other plans recommended above.

Regarding your extra day to day cover Healthsteps Gold, this is not necessary now as the day to day excess with Health Access is 100 euro.
The 700 savings per year will more than compensate for this.

Finally, no, I've no plans or interest in going into business, I'm happy to contribute on AAM now and again.
I'm surprised to hear about being too late for a broker review. The 2 I'm aware of that specialise are Patrick Brennan and Dermot Goode.
I've no connection with either and have never used a broker. Their websites as follows;
www.irishhealthinsurance.ie
www.totalhealthcover.ie

Regards, Snowyb
 
Thanks Snowyb,

Very much appreciated.

The fog is clearing.....

Final decision in the AM for 2018.

Very grateful for your extensive knowledge and assistance.

Trout fishing.
 
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