Yes, there would more than likely be a difference in the waiting time and some consultants may not have access to the beds in public hospitals. If you needed some type of non urgent treatment or investigation it would be more accessible in a private hospital. Dermot Goode (of Total Health Cover) has recommended VHI PMI 3613 and PMI 3513 as good mid level corporate plans in a number of radio and newspaper interviews recently. He gives very helpful advice in the media every year around this time. I am on PMI 0710 which has very similar cover to those two and is a bit cheaper.