My youngest child spent eight days in Tallaght (Children's) Hospital about a year or so ago. Because we had health insurance (cheap half-price kids policy) we had a private room with two beds and an en-suite shower and toilet. My wife stayed for the duration. Without insurance we'd have been in a pokey room across the corridor, wife sleeping in a chair, no toilet or shower. Perhaps ten years ago now one of my kids saw a consultant privately and had an elective procedure carried out which we would have been waiting about two years for publicly. Another child had was referred by a dentist to a dental surgery to have a supernumerary removed, this was covered by a very basic policy (as it was technically surgery rather than dentistry).I'm struggling to see a situation where health insurance makes sense for kids. Has anyone got any examples?
Because we had health insurance (cheap half-price kids policy) we had a private room with two beds and an en-suite shower and toilet.
Perhaps you're right; I can't recall anyone being more than three or four days in the pokey rooms. For a number of years now I've had the kids on half-price policies (one year they were covered for free) and with VHI I get six covered for the price of three. For me the low per-child premium is worth it even if only to be sure we can get elective surgery promptly if required.I suspect, that you got this room, because your child was going to be in hospital for 8 days. If it was for just 2 days, you would not have got that room, even if you had insurance.
The other issue is that a child might have a non life threatening condition that could end up waiting a long time on a public list. But that might be a very debilitating at the same time. In which case you might want to have access to a faster treatment if possible.
Am I right in thinking that without the insurance I'd have had to pay €600 (8 x €75) for the stay, whatever the room?I suspect, that you got this room, because your child was going to be in hospital for 8 days.
As Brendan mentioned we just our daughters grommets done within 2 weeks. I'm led to believe but don't know for sure that there was at least a 6 month wait on public.
My youngest child spent eight days in Tallaght (Children's) Hospital about a year or so ago. Because we had health insurance (cheap half-price kids policy) we had a private room with two beds and an en-suite shower and toilet. My wife stayed for the duration. Without insurance we'd have been in a pokey room across the corridor, wife sleeping in a chair, no toilet or shower. Perhaps ten years ago now one of my kids saw a consultant privately and had an elective procedure carried out which we would have been waiting about two years for publicly. Another child had was referred by a dentist to a dental surgery to have a supernumerary removed, this was covered by a very basic policy (as it was technically surgery rather than dentistry).
Is it not the case that you don't get on to the public waiting list until you've seen a consultant publicly, which can be a lengthy wait? Effectively a waiting list to get on the waiting list . . although I'm open to correction on this.The waiting times for children seem very low
Just for the record the Bons in Tralee has a pediatric department but the Bons in Cork no longer treats children.We're not all in DublinIf I had a child that had to go into hospital locally it would be the Bons Secours private hospital which does treat children. Now obviously for something serious they might have to go to Dublin but other stuff that would see you years maybe on the public waiting list can be dealt with in the private hospitals.
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