Jewells,
Just to clarify, Cardiac Tavi procedure is not fully covered on Simplicity plan.
There is a shortfall of 175 per night in the 2 hi-tech hospitals + 100 excess.
Beacon hospital is covered with just 100 excess for this procedure.
If this particular procedure is important, there are 2 alternative VHI cheaper plans that fully cover this surgery.
These 2 plans are similar to Health Plus Access, the only difference is that they both include a private/hi-tech excess 75 or 125 if admitted
to a private or hi-tech hospital.
Details as follows;
1. HealthPlus Excess; price 1841pa; same hospital cover as before, excess 75 per admission or day case.
2. Health Access; price 1685pa; same hospital cover as before, excess 125 per admission or day case.
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As Beacon hospital would be their preferred hospital, Simplicity would fully cover this hospital, with low excesses.
Regarding hi-tech hospitals Mater Private and Blackrock Clinic, this is a grey area relating to special procedures cover.
VHI don't give specific details on the Table of Benefits and are vague regarding this information by phone.
For clarity on the finer details of this cover, I would be inclined to verify the information with a health insurance broker.
The health insurance brokers seem to have access to this very detailed information, which should also be made available to customers.
This would provide extra re-assurance and peace of mind especially with regard to your parents concerns.
It involves a fee, which is well worth spending, considering the overall cost of health insurance, in their case 4000+ every year.
This kind of once-off advice, will carry you forward in the years ahead.
I am not a broker, and I've no connections with professional brokers.
The well known ones are Dermot Goode or Patrick Brennan.
Details as follows;
https://www.totalhealthcover.ie/
http://irishhealthinsurance.ie/index.php
Hope this helps with their decisions.
Regards, Snowyb