Health Insurance New health insurance policy for family moving back to Ireland

Long time lurker, first time poster.
Friends of mine are moving back to Ireland, 2 adults early 40s and 3 kids under 10 and would like to get heath insurance. I have directed them to the HIA website but it's a little overwhelming.
They have no pre-existing conditions, all healthy but want health coverage. They will be living in Munster. Can anybody offer advice?
I understand that the health insurance regulations changed last May and that over 35s get a 2% loading for each year. How soon do this family have to get their policy before this loading comes into effect?
Many thanks.

Hi Blacktea,

Welcome to AAM. Anybody coming to Ireland having lived abroad, has 9 months grace period in which to decide on a policy.
http://www.hia.ie/consumer-information/lifetime-community-rating-explained

Not sure what kind of budget they have in mind. Cheaper priced adult plans would have a higher hospital excess amount on admission to private or hi-tech hospitals for surgery.

Adult Options
The Flex Explore range is highly recommended.
1. Flex 500 Explore; price 661pa, public, private and hi-tech hospitals covered, 500 excess per admission to private or hi-tech hospital, 150 per private day case. No day to day cover.
Note; A further 10% discount per person applies at the moment if you buy online.

2. Simply Connect; 1063pa; public, private and hi-tech hospitals covered, 150 x 2 max excess per year for admission to private or hi-tech hospital,
private day case 50 per visit. Good day to day cover, max refund per year per person 300.

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There are more options available in the Flex Explore range with a lower hospital excess 375, 250, 175 but at a higher price according to their
budget, as follows;
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Childrens Options
Laya Healthcare have a good offer available at the moment on 7 plans, whereby you pay for one child and the rest of the children are free.
http://www.hia.ie/news/laya-healthcare-kids-offer-01032016

There is also free gp visits in Ireland for children under 6, if your gp is participating in the scheme, so a plan including day to day cover may not
be necessary. The Flex options are well worth considering for the children as follows;

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Hope this helps.

Regards, Snowyb

Very informative reply. Thank you very much Snowyb.

Do you have any idea how long the Laya special offer for kids will be available? The move might not be until June.

The Laya special offer for kids will be available until the end of April 2016.
VHI have a half price kids offer which started on 1 March 2016, not sure how long this will last.
One Plan Family 138 per child x 3
Parents and Kids Excess 143 per child x 3
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There are usually different offers available for children throughout the year. So, there should be other promotions available in the months ahead.
Children can be with VHI without an adult (an adult is just named on the policy but only the children are insured) if the adults want to choose a different provider.

Snowyb

Thank you very much.