Re: VHI/BUPA - one doctor's advice
My sister has had an atrocious time trying to recoup a short hospital stay from VHI and 7 months on it's still not sorted. When she mentioned this to her doctor, she (the doctor) advised my sister to move to BUPA asap, as in her experience VHI were impossible to deal with as a result of all their red tape.
I've had cause to query issues with VHI myself in the past and found them lethargic in their responses - fixed duties for staff and no willingness to stay beyond that point.
I moved to BUPA a month ago and was covered straight away (I've worked up my 'probationary' period with VHI already) and found every single piddly query I had was responded to at the crack of a whip. I'm impressed with the service I've gotten; let's hope if I ever need to make a claim, it'll be as smooth.