VHI Vhi plan D

Hi
I am looking for some advice for my 72 year old mother whose policy with VHI is up for renewal on 8th April. She is currently on VHI health plus premium previously VHI Plan D. She reckons it costs 3500 euro per annum. The premium is deducted monthly directly from a HSE pension she gets. She would love to try and maintain her level of inpatient cover in private hospitals while reducing her premiums, which are extremely high. When she enquired about this previously from VHI they said any alternative would be a downgrade in her cover and as a result she would have to serve a three year waiting time? She is also worried that it would be difficult to cancel /change the payments from her pension.

She has hypertension (longstanding ) and obstructive sleep apnoea for the last year but is otherwise well. Is there any alternative options for her or is the advice she got right and is she best to leave well enough alone?

You don't serve waiting periods when you downgrade your cover, but you would, if you subsequently upgraded your cover again.

Hi pumba,

Plan D(healthplus premium) fully covers a person for a semi private room in the Mater Private and Blackrock Clinic, plus full cover private room in all the private and public hospitals, with no excess payments or shortfalls on admission for surgery or day case.
There are 2 alternative plans to consider, but they would both have an excess payment of 125 or 150 on admission for surgery or day case in
Mater Private or Blackrock Clinic. Details as follows;

1. VHI Company Plan Executive Excess; price 3177pa; same cover as before but with an excess 125 payable if admitted for surgery or day case in Mater Private or Blackrock Clinic. Private and public hospitals fully covered, no excess payable. Extra day to day cover, 100 refund per consultant visit, 40 per gp visit etc.
Note; As your mother is over 65 yrs, VHI will impose a 2 year waiting time just in respect of the extra day to day cover. Plan D day to day cover would still apply while waiting.

2. Laya Empower 150 Create; price 3120pa; same cover as before but with an excess 150 payable if admitted for surgery or day case in Mater Private or Blackrock Clinic and other private hospitals. Extra day to day cover, 80 refund per consultant visit, 30 per gp visit etc. There is no
waiting time for this extra cover with Laya Healthcare, cover applies straight away.

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The only difference between the above 2 plans and Healthplus Premium is the excess(125 or 150) payable if admitted for surgery or day case.
If she had 2 admissions or day cases per year, these alternative options would not be cost effective. In saying that, there is also the extra day to day cover which is a factor to include when weighing up the pros and cons.
Just to note, if she switched to Option 1 with VHI, and the following year wanted to revert back to Plan D, the excess would continue to apply for another 2 years.

Regards, Snowyb