Ger1966,
Firstly, there isn't 500 savings for everyone in the audience but how does 328 per year savings sound? Irish Life Benefit 2; price 788pa
This comes with a compromise. Select Plus covers both a semi-private and a private room in a private hospital with a 150 excess on admission.
Benefit 2 covers a semi-private room with a 300 excess per admission. Day case excess is 150 for both plans.
The list of private hospitals covered on both plans are the same, no change there.
A semi-private room means a shared room with 2, 4 or 6 beds depending on the hospital.
A private room means single occupancy with ensuite bathroom facilities.
A private room is never guaranteed but it is fully covered on Select Plus if it matters.
If a private room is not a priority, there's 328 savings to be achieved by switching to Benefit 2.
Lastly, with a renewal date of 1 Jan 2019, next week there will be a list of price changes etc announced on the HIA website for January, so the above prices are not guaranteed until then.
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Snowyb