Hi,
I am looking for some advice on behalf of an elderly lady regrading private health insurance.
Her husband was in a nursing home and has recently died. He was adamant about having a good health plan in place for both of them.
Since his death, the policy has lapsed as it was in his name. VHI were informed of the death, and did reach out to the lady, etc, but the matter wasn't resolved.
The lady is fairly adamant that she doesn't want any private health care.
She is of the opinion that she will get just as good care in the public system if she ends up in hospital.
She says that she is too elderly and frail to undergo any major surgeries or treatments.
The total cost of the private consultations they have had in recent years did not exceed the policy excess thresholds, and therefore had to be paid for in full.
Sadly for her, these consultations/examinations haven't resolved her biggest life impacting issues (extreme dizziness, lethargy, tinnitus, deafness), and there seems to be little hope of the same based on the results given. Therefore, there was no obvious benefit to having the policy in place.
She has articulated that she feels like she is dying, and sees no point in spending money on the health insurance.
She is almost 90 years old. She lives on her own and is unable to make use of technology for social contact.
Between that and the loss of her husband (and not being allowed to see him for the preceding months), her physical & mental health has declined hugely, and I do worry about her greatly.
I respect her opinion, but don't want her to lose out on the best care available if/when she needs it.
While not loaded with money, she has enough to pay for the health insurance.
Are there other facts that she should be considering?
Are there other policies she should be moving to?
The current policy is HealthPlus Access from VHI.
Thanks in advance.
I am looking for some advice on behalf of an elderly lady regrading private health insurance.
Her husband was in a nursing home and has recently died. He was adamant about having a good health plan in place for both of them.
Since his death, the policy has lapsed as it was in his name. VHI were informed of the death, and did reach out to the lady, etc, but the matter wasn't resolved.
The lady is fairly adamant that she doesn't want any private health care.
She is of the opinion that she will get just as good care in the public system if she ends up in hospital.
She says that she is too elderly and frail to undergo any major surgeries or treatments.
The total cost of the private consultations they have had in recent years did not exceed the policy excess thresholds, and therefore had to be paid for in full.
Sadly for her, these consultations/examinations haven't resolved her biggest life impacting issues (extreme dizziness, lethargy, tinnitus, deafness), and there seems to be little hope of the same based on the results given. Therefore, there was no obvious benefit to having the policy in place.
She has articulated that she feels like she is dying, and sees no point in spending money on the health insurance.
She is almost 90 years old. She lives on her own and is unable to make use of technology for social contact.
Between that and the loss of her husband (and not being allowed to see him for the preceding months), her physical & mental health has declined hugely, and I do worry about her greatly.
I respect her opinion, but don't want her to lose out on the best care available if/when she needs it.
While not loaded with money, she has enough to pay for the health insurance.
Are there other facts that she should be considering?
Are there other policies she should be moving to?
The current policy is HealthPlus Access from VHI.
Thanks in advance.