Hi phoenix,
With a renewal date of 22nd March 2013, you are off to a good start - you will avoid the next round of price increases on plans with
all 4 health insurance providers from 28/3/2013 to 1/4/2013.
The only company that offers identical hospital cover to Plan B Options is Laya Healthcare; all the other companies have a restriction for
orthopaedic surgery. Details are explained with each individual company. It doesn't need to be a problem, just something to be aware of and
having the know-how to avoid any potential costs.
LAYA HEALTHCARE; Adult Options; Alternative plans to Plan B Options with no hospital excess.
1. Healthwise Plus No Excess; Price per adult; 885pa (911) - good hospital cover,no hospital excess,limited outpatient
2. Total Health No Excess; Price per adult; 1018pa(1048) - good hospital cover,no hospital excess,lower shortfalls hi-tech,
3. Company Care Plus; Price per adult; 1059pa(1090) - good hospital cover,no hospital excess,excellent outpatient cover,
lower shortfalls for hi-tech and private cover.
Alternative with hospital excess;
4. Total Health Choice; Price per adult; 874pa(900) - good hospital cover,100 hosp excess,good outpatient cover.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?68&277&320&198&323/
LAYA HEALTHCARE; Kids Options
1. Essential First ; Price per child; 195pa (200) - Public hospital cover only, limited outpatient cover.
2. Healthwise Plus No Excess Price per child; 248pa (255) - Public,private and hi-tech cover, no hosp excess,limited outpatient cover.
3. Simply Health Starter; Price per child; 253pa (260) - Public hospital cover only and good outpatient cover.
4. Total Health Choice; Price per child; 273pa (281) - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover and good outpatient cover,100 hosp excess.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?68&285&278&323&277/
Above prices in brackets for adults and kids options include the 3% charge if you pay by instalments.
VHI HEALTHCARE
The following plans are worth considering with VHI Healthcare;
Adult Options
1. PMI 05 11; Price per adult; 1244pa - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,higher outpatient cover,no hosp excess.
2. PMI 25 11; Price per adult; 1172pa - same as pmi 05 11, but with a hospital excess 75.
3. Well Plus 1 Excess Price per adult; 1049pa - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,limited outpatient cover,hospital excess 75.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?68&232&276&196/
All the above VHI plans are similar to Plan B Options re hospital cover except for 1 difference only - they all have an 80% restriction for
orthopaedic and cataract eye surgery in a private or hi-tech hospital. This means that VHI will only pay 80% of the bill for this surgery, and the
patient would have to pay 20% shortfall.(which could be 2k to 4k depending on the type of surgery.
NOTE; This restriction does NOT apply to public hospitals.
Since 2008, hi-tech hospitals Mater Private and Blackrock Clinic are NOT charging the 20% shortfall to patients on mid range plans (plans with
45%-65% hi-tech cover).
So, to avoid this 20% charge, a person can have this type of surgery in a hi-tech or public hospital fully covered.
KIDS OPTIONS with VHI;
1. One Plan Starter; Price per child; 200pa - Public hospital cover only and limited outpatients.
2. One Plan Choice; Price per child; 244pa - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover and limited outpatients.
3. Company Plan Starter; Price per child; 268pa - Public hospital cover only and outpatient cover.
4. PMI 14 11; Price per child; 355pa - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover and good outpatient cover.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?68&103&290&87&257&246/
GLOHEALTH
Adult Options;
1. Best Plan; Price per adult; 1039pa - Public,private and hi-tech cover, limited outpatients,no hospital excess.
2. Better Plan; Price per adult; 842pa - Public,private and hi-tech cover, limited outpatients,100 hospital excess.
3. Better Plan Ultra Cash; Price per adult; 1142pa - Public,private and hi-tech cover, good outpatient,100 hospital excess.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?68&299&298&324/
Kids Options;
1. Good Plan; Price per child; 160pa - Public hospital only,limited outpatient.
2 Better Plan; Price per child; 206pa - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,limited outpatient,100 hospital excess.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?297&298/
NOTE; Glohealth plans have a co-payment of 2000 for orthopaedic surgery in a private or hi-tech hospital.
This co-payment does NOT apply to public hospitals.
AVIVA
Adult Options;
1. Level 2 Health Excess; Price per adult; 899pa - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,limited outpatients,125 hosp excess.
2. Level 2 Health Excess with day to day; Price per adult; 1058pa - public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,good outpatient,125 hosp excess.
3. Health Plan 05; Price per adult; 952pa - Public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,good outpatient,75 hospital excess.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?68&249&251&307/
Kids Options;
1. Level 2 Health Excess; Price per child; 209pa - public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,limited outpatients,125 hosp excess.
2. Level 2 Health Excess with day to day; Price per child; 323pa - public,private and hi-tech hospital cover,good outpatients,125 excess.
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?68&249&251/
NOTE; Aviva plans have a co-payment of 2000 for orthopaedic surgery in a private or hi-tech hospital.
This co-payment does NOT apply to public hospitals.
As you can see, there's plenty of alternative options to choose from with all 4 health insurance providers.
Some plans shown above are half the price of Plan B Options, so you may be wondering 'where is the catch?'
I can assure you there is absolutely no catch involved, in fact, the only catch is called 'Plan B Options - double the price.
NOTE; Each member of the family can be on a different plan, with the same company, if you wish.
Regarding all the kids options recommended, I included both basic plans(public hospital cover only) and plans with full private cover upto
hi-tech hospitals. There are no private children's hospitals in Ireland so basic cover is adequate for a child. However, as an extra option
if required, Mater Private and Blackrock Clinic offer a list of typical paediatric surgery fully covered for children aged 3 years +,
if your plan includes hi-tech cover. Some of these plans also include good outpatient cover.
My personal favourite plan is Company Care Plus 1090pa, it ticks all the boxes, identical to Plan B Options, note this plan will increase
to 1201pa on 1 April 2013. A very good price at the moment.
I know your probably a bit iffy about switching providers, all the VHI plans recommended are equally good, just a bit more expensive, but
still a lot cheaper than Plan B Options - still well worth considering.
Hope you find something suitable.
Snowyb