cais,
You should firstly check with the company as to the type of insurance they will take out for you.
If it is VHI International or equivalent with another provider, there is no need for you to keep your own cover for the next 3 years.
VHI International means that you will be covered while living abroad and you will also have continuous health cover, with no waiting times applied, when you return to Ireland in 3 years time.
https://www.vhi.ie/travel-insurance/international
Otherwise, if you reduce cover down to public hospital only, you will have a 2 year wait before you can use private hospital cover on your return.
The alternative is to choose a plan with a higher excess, to maintain similar hospital cover while lowering costs overall.
VHI Plans worth considering as follows;
1. VHI One Plan 500; price 769pa; all public and private hospitals covered, excess 500 x 2 max for private admissions, day case excess 150.
2. VHI One Plan 250; price 916pa; all public and private hospitals covered, excess 250 x 2 max for private admissions, day case excess 150.
Child Option; 1. One Plan Family; price 148per child; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 125 per admission or day case.
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Laya Plans worth considering as follows;
1. Control 600 Connect; price 871pa; all public, private(incl private room) + 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 600 per admission, day case 150.
2. Essential Health 300; price 895pa; all public, private and Beacon hospital covered, excess 300 x 2 max per year, day case excess 125.
3. Control 300 Create; price 1042pa; all public, private(incl private room) + 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, excess 300 per admission, day case 125,
good day to day cover included.
Child Option; Essential Health 300; price 234pa( child offer; just pay for 1 child and the rest of the children go free); all public, private and
Beacon hospital covered. Excess 300 x 2 max per year, day case 125.
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Regards, Snowyb