Health Insurance At what point does private health insurance simply become uneconomical?

Ok. I think for most people the cost of a policy with BR is out of reach or soon will be so I don't think we need to be scaring people into feeling it is a necessity. I doubt the outcome would have been any different without BR, maybe a bit less comfortable for sure.
 
In terms of cash savings in lieu of health insurance. Are there instances that you will not receive private treatment without health insurance? As in even with a large cash pot, that the potential bill could exceed it and is the doctor/hospital taking a risk? Does that happen here?

I would also be wary of potential for elder abuse, if cash that might potentially be inherited is used for healthcare, could influence be put on people not to spend it?
 
misemoi said:
As in even with a large cash pot, that the potential bill could exceed it and is the doctor/hospital taking a risk?
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I suppose a complicated operation/surgery and associated treatment could cost 10k-30k, yes
 
JoeRoberts said:
Ok. I think for most people the cost of a policy with BR is out of reach or soon will be so I don't think we need to be scaring people into feeling it is a necessity. I doubt the outcome would have been any different without BR, maybe a bit less comfortable for sure.
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Not sure where you're getting the idea that I'm "scaring people into the feeling it is a necessity" that you have a policy for BR
I'm simply saying that private heath care is expensive and you're better of with health insurance then without it,
as the costs will most likely outstrip any savings you've built up by not paying the premiums
 
Personally I wouldn't be relying on the broken public health system or on the new unproven minister for health (Jennifer Carroll MacNeill) for my survival. I think €2K-€3K per annum is a relatively small outlay for the chance of survival.
 
Flybytheseat said:
Personally I wouldn't be relying on the broken public health system or on the new unproven minister for health (Jennifer Carroll MacNeill) for my survival. I think €2K-€3K per annum is a relatively small outlay for the chance of survival.
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How will you avoid using the the public system in an emergency situation such as a car accident , heart attack, stroke bad fall etc. and someone calls 999 ?
 
Clamball said:
That is what happens currently, if you are in an emergency situation you will be seen immediately. The greater the emergency, the more effort is made. I have seen it in action for my child and it is impressive.
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I'm talking about situations for which there's a waiting list - scans etc. - not things one has to visit an ED for.
 
I know I've had quite a few battles with hospital accounts even before the legislation was changed with hospitals and Drs trying to charge my insurance for treatment that was wholly public. I won the argument a couple of times, but with the change in legislation they have free reign.

I made complaint to VHI about it because hospital would send in an un-itemized bill so you have no idea what your signing for. But VHI couldn't care less.

My main problem is with it, it's the private costs can be many multiples of the public costs for absolutely no reason. They can't be challenged and there's no why of checking. Even getting something simple as bloods can be 400 one way and 50 another.

That is why the cost of insurance is going up. Yes it's an aging population and all those issues. But the billing of insurance is a massive black hole that doesn't get challenged.

Try to get a straight answer on procedure codes and costs when researching insurance plans. It's like you asked about quantum computing.
 
Ireland's poor Public Health Service keeps Private Health Insurance both viable, and profitable.

While the Public Health Service has had issues for many years, recent Governments have a lot to answer for (and yet, are rarely held to account).
 
AlbacoreA said:
Having had various parents and in-laws through hospitals, I think it makes a huge difference. Try being sick and fighting infections in a ward with poor hygiene and people wandering a
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Get the job done private for sure but it doesn't have to be in Blackrock Clinic. That is the essence of my point.
 
AlbacoreA said:
Try to get a straight answer on procedure codes and costs when researching insurance plans. It's like you asked about quantum computing.
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I went in to a private clinic for a day procedure recently. It was largely covered by my health provider with the balance a co-payment of €40 from me.

Anyway when I went to pay by card I was given a receipt that said something like “medical treatment” in the narrative line. I asked for the exact procedure it to be noted with a code and it was like I was asking about quantum computing. Eventually I managed to get her to adjust the receipt to include a general description of the procedure, but that was only after consultation with a manager.

I get a better quality receipt for a €1.29 purchase of chewing gum from Tesco!
 
JoeRoberts said:
Get the job done private for sure but it doesn't have to be in Blackrock Clinic. That is the essence of my point
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Getting blood tests there vs my GP is only about 30% more expensive but like 10 times faster. No idea about procedures.
 
Dr Strangelove said:
Anyway when I went to pay by card I was given a receipt that said something like “medical treatment” in the narrative line. I asked for the exact procedure it to be noted with a code and it was like I was asking about quantum computing. Eventually I managed to get her to adjust the receipt to include a general description of the procedure, but that was only after consultation with a manager
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Just curious, why did you need such detailed info on the receipt?
 
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