Key Post Some good value policies

[Brendan Burgess]

It's very hard to sift through all the policies on the HIA website, so I thought it would be useful to highlight some good value policies where people can start their search. I am compiling this from posts on askaboutmoney and what people have written in the media and from looking at the HIA website

The most basic policy:
Laya Healthcare Assure Vitality €514

• Covers all public hospitals
  
• €150 excess on outpatients
  
• Pays €40 towards your consultants' fees
• Out patient policy limit €6,500

Suitable for:

• People under 35 who want basic cover
• People aged 35 or more who want a basic policy to avoid late entry loading

Good cover in hi-tech hospitals with big excess:
Laya Flex 500 Explore: €630

Suitable for:

• People under 35 who want cover in the event of a big claim
  
• People aged 35 or more who want a basic policy to avoid late entry loading
• Older people who are prepared to pay small claims themselves

This is the policy I have myself. I am prepared to pay my own day to day expenses and consultants' fees. I am prepared to pay the first €500 of each claim myself. But if I need a major operation, I would like the choice of all hospitals including the Beacon, Blackrock Clinic and the Mater Private

• €500 excess per claim
• Shortfall of €100 per night in private hospitals
  
• Shortfall of €200 per night in Blackrock Clinic and Mater Private
• No GP expenses
  
• No consultants fees

 

[Brendan Burgess]

Good coverage in hi-tech hospitals, consultants' fees and GP fees:
Laya Total Health Select: €1523

• Private room in a private hospital
  
• Shortfall of €175 per night in the Blackrock Clinic, the Beacon, and Mater Private
  
• Day cases in private hospitals covered
• 75% of consultants' fees
  
• 75% of GP Visits and 24 hour GP Help line

 

[Brendan Burgess]

Good semi-private cover in private hospitals + contributions towards consultant's and GPs' fees

VHI PMI 3613 €1,175

• semi-private rate in most private hospitals;€75 excess per claim
  
• Beacon full cover for semi-private rate
  
• Mater: 45% of semi-private rate and Blackrock: 35% of semi-private rate
• Consultants' fees €60 x 7
  
• GP Visits : €25 x 7

Recommended on radio by Dermot Goode and came up in this post as well.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

Laya Connect Choice €1,100.34

• Private room in a private hospital including hi tech hospitals - shortfall €165 per night, Excess €125 per claim
• Day cases in all hospitals: excess of €125 per claim
  
• 50% of consultants' fees
  
• 75% of GP visits

Recommended by snowyb

 

[Brendan Burgess]

As I write these, the Laya products seem far superior to the others?

I am not sure why people recommend the VHI PMI 3613 as the Laya Connect Choice seems superior for the same price?

 

[Brendan Burgess]

If you want to get your kids covered... VHI seems to be the answer

From SnowyB

VHI are most competitive on price - due to half price kids.

Adult Alternative Option VHI
VHI PMI 37 13; Price 1011pa - no outpatient cover, same hospital cover, 100 excess.
[broken link removed]

Child Alternative Options VHI
One Plan Choice; Price 124.72 - same hospital cover, no outpatient cover, 125 excess.
One Plan Complete; price 147.36 - similar hospital cover, no excess, no outpatient cover.
[broken link removed]

The main alternative adult option is PMI 37 13 with VHI - by dropping outpatient cover, you can make savings of 246 which
you could use for doctors bills etc instead.

 

[Mexicola]

Some decent value plans imo

I've just stuck them into comparison links to make the post shorter

Laya Flex 500 Explore, Glo Net Most and Net More 300
[broken link removed]

 

[Mexicola]

Some decent value plans imo

I've just stuck them into comparison links to make the post shorter

Laya Flex 500 Explore, Glo Net Most and Net More 300
[broken link removed]
Laya Flex 250 Explore, Laya Essential Connect Family and Glo Net More 100
[broken link removed]
Laya Control 150 Total, VHI PMI 37 13
[broken link removed]
Glo Better Choice, Pro & Advantage
[broken link removed]
Laya Connect Choice and Aviva HP 20
[broken link removed]
Aviva Select Plus & Select More
[broken link removed]
New unreleased Aviva plans
http://www.hia.ie/news/aviva-release-3-new-plans-06022015
and finally VHI's half price kids offer on the One Plan range runs til the end of Feb

 

[44brendan]

Many thanks' for this post Brendan! The whole discussion on AAM re Health Insurance has made me examine my cover closely and I am moving to a cheaper level which will cover the main risks without some of the unnecessary add-ons. I feel that the lack of knowledge on specific over needed has forced many people to take on more expensive policies than they need. I have dropped the "kids" altogether from health cover as I feel that they will be adequately serviced by the public system given their ages and state of health!!!

 

[cronley]

Brendan
Attached is my spreadsheet of what I think are good value plans. It lists the main criteria for me as a 63 year old man, with no kids. They all cover both Public & Private hospitals, except VHI Company Plan Starter, which covers Public Hospitals only. I tried to upload as Excel file, but couldnt - so it is uploaded as PDF attachment, bit it spills over to 2 pages. Why cant AAM upload Excel attachements