Irish Life Health Aviva renewals- caveat emptor new co-payments on their health insurance policies!

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tedd

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In addition to increasing premiums, Aviva have introduced new co-payments on many of their health insurance policies. (Or to quote their literature "reviewed our existing product suite and simplified our plan range to make it easier for our customers". Easier for their customers to pay more for less cover, that is.)

So now when a customer renews certain policies not only does the annual rate increase but if the person ends up needing orthopaedic surgery they will have to pay an extra 2000 euro as a co-payment to have their operation in a private hospital. This seems like a cynical move to make health insurance less attractive to older people who are more likely to need orthopaedic procedures. The HIA say it is accepted practice at renewal time.

The policy renewal proposals can be quite difficult to understand, especially if someone is not familiar with the jargon and if you have older relatives renewing a policy, you might want to help them check their level of cover and use the HIA website to get the best deal possible. Some might be happy with a co-payment of 2k but not if they only discover it when they hear they need a hip replacement.
 
It is on the renewal letter. VHI introduced 20% shortfall earlier on in the year also. There are other Aviva plans that don't have it or change your renewal date. VHI won't let you change your renewal date though. An insurance broker that specialises in health insurance can help or look at HIA website for help. I saved a family of 2 adults and 3 children €770 today on their renewal with Aviva health.

Patrick
 
By having different plans for different members of the family and giving them the plans that they actually need rather than irrelevant cover. I fine tune plans by asking relevant questions.

As of today, there are 202 plans in the Irish Health Insurance market.

It changes very quickly and not all information is on the HIA website or indeed the individual insurers' websites.

Patrick
 
do you offer a service/charge a fee for this? If I have hosp level 2 (aviva) what is a similar plan with no co-payment? thks
 
Aviva option: Health Plan 1002xs Level 2 Adult: 1053pa (NOTE:15% price increase applies from 15 Feb 2012.
Quinn options: Company Care Plus Adult:950pa
Company Care No Excess Adult:920pa
Company Care Choice 795pa
(Note corporate plans are not increasing with Quinn,not sure after yesterdays levy hikes if that remains the same)
Hope this enlightens your decision. Snowyb
 
OP made good points but, my experience trumps this. Got Aviva renewal email for 28th Jan from Aviva -which directed me to "secure area", separate page,which principally was the renewal workflow. I had no great prob with premium but decided to hold back and investigate.-- heard mumblings about changes in cover. Phoned Aviva-- no changes and increasded prem only effected renewals From Feb. Was about to renew when my broker advised that although the higher prem 1126 kicked in after 1 Feb that the 2000 co payment clause was effective from 1/1.

The crux is that there was a warning of the reduced cover very well "buried" in a sub page accessible on the second page the start of which was the premium payment process. It was under "documentation" and the letter was headed "migration renewal". This may mean something to AVIVA staff but it is surely there to mislead the general public.

Positive or negatives changes to a renewal policy should surely be clearly hilighted on the covering/ firs page of the email--- as otherwise we can only assume there is an intent to mislead the unwitting. I consider myself quite astute and computer literate, but even I had to guide some hapless AVIVA staff through their own correspondence structure.

Dubious/ smart behaviours such as this have blighted many other previously honourable professions in this country and while it can be minor it is symptomatic of a greater malaise.

Aviva are making the matter the subject of a formal complaint for forwarding to Ombudsman if deemed appropriate in course.
 
The renewal premium was €1030 each-- not the premium quoted publicly now which includes the newly imposed €2000 co payment. While I probably could fight it and retain the "old" terms, I have no desire to do so. It is the behaviour rather than the quantum of the changes which prompts me to seek alternative cover from another insurer.
 
A lot of people switched to Aviva's level 2 Hospital from Plan B or Plan B Options and made significant savings last year as it was the most comparable plan.


This year the renewal premium for that plan is €1,030 with the introduction of a copayment or excess for the first 2k of some orthopaedic operations that cost in excess of 10k from 1st January.


The cost this year of Plan B now called HealthPlus Access is €1,251 with no copayment or excess for orthopaedic procedures.


This year the most comparable plans for VHI's Plan B Options is not Level 2 Hospital but Aviva's Level 2 Complete Health (€1,397) which has no excess on orthopaedic procedures in private and hi tech hospitals.

The most comparable Quinn plan is Essential Plus no excess at a price of €1,390 - more if you don't pay up front.


VHI - Plan B Options (HealthPlusAccess) - €1,460
Aviva - Level 2 Complete Health - - €1,397
Quinn - Essential Plus - €1,390


For those existing customers, the Level 2 Hospital plan still offers a 29% saving over Plan B options but it now has this ortho excess that Plan B Options doesn't.


By the way VHI only pay 80% for the same orthopaedic (and more) plus certain opthalmic procedures in private and hi tech hospitals for virtually all of their plans now.


These plans were all sub 500 euro 3/4 years ago - that is serious inflation.


If one is happy to have certain excesses on their plan, you can nearly halve those prices. Not everyone, especially older people, will want to have these excesses.


I am familiar with all 3 company's renewal notices. It sounds as if you get your documentation by email rather than hard copy. The letter does state that there is a reduction in cover and offers alternative cover but it is up to the customer to make contact with Aviva or financial advisor to make the change as Aviva canot make the change without an instruction as they comply with CPC rules. This is why I don't sign up to electronic documentation because it is easier to miss stuff like this.


The market has changed and will continue to do so.


Did you hear Minister Reilly's comments on Pat Kenny on Thursday ? - if not have a listen to the podcast. He thinks one gets a lot for a €1,000 in the health insurance market.

Patrick
 
I know I'm a few months late with this but most of the private hospitals are desperate for patients! I'm due one of those orthopaedic procedures (a knee replacement) and with my Aviva plan, I'm covered for 90% in Blackrock and 100% in Mount Carmel, but would have to pay the 2k fee in either one.

Blackrock were willing to waive the 10% but then Mount Carmel trumped that by waiving the 2k fee for ALL orthopaedic procedures.

Guess where I'm going :)
 
That is one of the reasons the companies are doing this. If the hospital wants the business they need to become more competitive on prices. The medical providers from the insurers are pushing the hospitals to reduce their costs. Good luck with operation. How much did both hospitals charge for the procedures before discounts ?

Patrick
 
aoh said:
but then Mount Carmel trumped that by waiving the 2k fee for ALL orthopaedic procedures.
Click to expand...

I'm with Aviva and was going to get hip replacement next year in Santry Sports Clinic(when my 2 years upgrade waiting period was over).This €2k is really encouraging me to move to Laya(much cheaper and no €2k) but if Mount Carmel waive it,I'll go to them.Do they still waive this co-payment?Has anyone any experience of this?
 
According to the email from Mount Carmel, "it has been agreed by Management to Mount Carmel Hospital to waive all Healthcare Insurance excess fees for hip/knee joints up to and including the amount of €2,000." I go into MTC on Monday, so I'm sure this is real.

I have heard a rumour that the 2k is about to increase to 4k. Scaremongering, maybe but worth thinking about. Check with SSC before you decide.
 
Thanks aoh, hope your operation goes well, let us know how you get on.
Wouldn't surprise me if they increased it to €4k.Health insurance in this country is an absolute rip off.I've been paying all my life and the only time I need to use it, they want to charge me €2k?!! Makes me so angry.My other option is to go public to the Cappagh, but I'd imagine I'll be waiting decades to get in there!!
 
My previous post disappeared for some reason.

There is currently an average 2 month wait in Cappagh for hip replacements as well as Croom and Kilcreene.
 
Thats good to hear pj111, how did you find this out? Would Mount Carmel & Santry SC be better options (obviously only if they were to waive the €2 k fee)
 
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