Hi Johnd,
The 2 plans you've mentioned have no cover for Mater Private or Blackrock Clinic at all.
They also have a charge(excess) of 250 and 500 for private hospital cover, so the only cover still the same as Plan B(healthplus access)
is public hospital cover.
So I would NOT recommend these plans as an alternative to plan b.
Alternative options as follows including public,private and hi tech hospital cover and outpatient cover;
Plans with a hospital excess;
1. Plan PMI 10 11; price per adult; 945pa - good hospital cover at all levels + outpatient cover.
2. Plan PMI 14 11; price per adult; 1050pa - same hospital cover at all levels + more outpatients(note price increase on 28/3/13 included)
3. Plan PMI 25 11; price per adult; 1172pa - same hospital cover at all levels + higher outpatients.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?67&252&257&276/
Note the cheapest plan without outpatients is One Plan price 943pa - PMI 10 11 is better value.
Plans without a hospital excess as follows;
1. Plan PMI 30 12 price per adult; 1104pa - same hospital, no hospital excess, very limited outpatients.
2. Plan PMI 05 11 price per adult; 1244pa - same hospital, no hospital excess, excellent outpatients.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?67&314&232/
If hi-tech hospital cover is not a priority, the following plan has hi-tech cover for cardiac surgery and orthopaedic surgery.
It has no hi-tech cover for any other type of surgery but has very good out-patient cover.
Plan PMI 26 12; Price per adult; 933pa - good hospital and very good outpatients.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?67&287/
If you are interested in switching providers, Laya healthcare have very good alternatives well worth considering as follows;
1. Total Health Choice; price per adult; 874(900) - good hospital + good outpatient cover 50% refund,hosp excess 100.
2. Company Care Plus; price per adult; 1059(1090) - good hospital + higher outpatient cover 75% refund,no hosp excess.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?67&323&198/
Prices in brackets include a 3% charge if you pay by instalments.
Laya have no age related waiting times for outpatients(even higher outpatients).
Inpatient waiting times are for pre-existing conditions only.
Plenty of food for thought.
Snowyb