A shortfall means that the patient pays x amount per night, as the health plan does not fully cover the cost of treatment in a private hospital.
For example, Company Health Plan, which is your husband's current plan, has a shortfall of €255 per night for surgery in a private hospital.
An average stay in hospital for surgery, is approx 5 nights. So this would cost your husband €255 x 5 = €1,275 if he had surgery in any private hospital.
A shortfall cost does not apply to any of the main A+E Hospitals, so he is fully covered in these hospitals, no extra charges apply.
Note; the One Plan 500 with VHI does not have any shortfalls. It has an excess payment of €500, for surgery in a private hospital.
So, it would cost €500 for surgery (5 nights) in a private hospital, cheaper than Company Health Plan which would cost €1,275.
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Hope this explains things more clearly.
Snowyb