B
BlackForest
Guest
I am currently paying €44 a month for Hibernian's I Plan, Level 1. I had been on the Me Plan, which was a bit cheaper, until someone scared me into thinking I'd be better off on the higher plan - since I may get pregnant in the coming years, I'd apparently be better off on this plan, as it had better maternity benefits. Now, as I try to shave down my expenditure, I'm considering cancelling the policy.
So, to come to my question, is 'going private' i.e. by claiming through my health insurance, for having a baby really much better than what would be available to me publicly anyway? I've found it difficult to find out what I'm entitled to publicly. The way the maternity benefits of my policy are described (see below) seems a bit misleading. Surely the highlighted part below is available to me FREE (well, I pay taxes...) as a public patient anyway?
Our 'i plan' Level 1 offers a comprehensive range of maternity benefits, giving you great peace-of-mind including the following excellent benefits:
Also, I heard from a friend that private obstetricians are pretty darn hard to get anyway. So again, sounds like you'd be better off in the public system.
I know I should take into consideration that if I fell otherwise ill, that private health insurance would mean I could get appointments with private consultants and not have to wait on a public waiting list. But I'm pretty healthy so it's really the maternity situation that I'd want to get right - and even that's only a potential situation
Thanks in advance for any information you can share with me.
So, to come to my question, is 'going private' i.e. by claiming through my health insurance, for having a baby really much better than what would be available to me publicly anyway? I've found it difficult to find out what I'm entitled to publicly. The way the maternity benefits of my policy are described (see below) seems a bit misleading. Surely the highlighted part below is available to me FREE (well, I pay taxes...) as a public patient anyway?
Our 'i plan' Level 1 offers a comprehensive range of maternity benefits, giving you great peace-of-mind including the following excellent benefits:
- You will be fully covered for 3 days in a public hospital or should you wish, you have the option of going to a private hospital where you will receive an allowance of €2,450
- Hibernian Aviva Health will also pay up to €859 for consultants' fees while you are in hospital. This includes consultant delivery fee, anaesthetist's fee for epidural, in patient pathologist fees and paediatric consultation for a normal delivery
- Alternatively, if you choose to have a home birth we'll cover medical expenses up to €2,450
Also, I heard from a friend that private obstetricians are pretty darn hard to get anyway. So again, sounds like you'd be better off in the public system.
I know I should take into consideration that if I fell otherwise ill, that private health insurance would mean I could get appointments with private consultants and not have to wait on a public waiting list. But I'm pretty healthy so it's really the maternity situation that I'd want to get right - and even that's only a potential situation
Thanks in advance for any information you can share with me.