Hi Riomhaire,
Yes, you are right, the only difference between Ideal Simplicity and Simplicity plan is the excess amount for day to day cover.
The main reason for choosing the Simplicity range of plans, is if you want full cover for a private room in a private hospital.
If private room cover is not a priority, the Simply Connect or Simply Connect Plus plans are worth considering;
1. Simply Connect ; price 1230pa (price increase from 2/12/2019); all public, private and 3 Hi-tech hospitals covered, inpatient excess in private or
hi-tech hospitals capped at 150 x 2 per year for all private hospital admissions. Day case excess 50 per procedure. Good day to day cover,
one euro excess, max refund 500 per year. (50% of 1000 = 500).
2. Simply Connect Plus; price 1286pa; (not sure if price will change for Jan 1 2020. All public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered; inpatient
excess capped at 150 x 1 per year for all private hospital admissions. Day case excess 50 per procedure. Good day to day cover, one euro excess,
max refund per year.( 50% of 2000 = 1000)
https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/#/plan-comparison?plansAndProfiles=W3siaWQiOjEsImFnZSI6MjYsIm1pbk1heFByaWNlIjpbMCwxNTEzLjY1XSwibWluTWF4RXhjZXNzIjpbMCw2MDBdLCJwbGFuVHlwZSI6MSwicGxhbnNTZWxlY3RlZCI6WzEwNTAsMTIwMywxMzU5LDEzNjddLCJwbGFucyI6eyJkYXRhIjpbXSwibG9hZGluZyI6dHJ1ZX0sInBsYW5zU2VsZWN0ZWREYXRhIjpbXSwiYXBwbGljYXRpb24iOnsidG9nZ2xlX3Njcm9sbExvY2siOmZhbHNlLCJwbGFuX2RldGFpbF9pZCI6LTF9fV0=
The full list of price changes for 1st January 2020 will be available to view on the Health Insurance Authority website next week.
Regards, Snowyb