Key Post "Can I see a consultant privately, and then go public for the procedure?"

This has been raised a few times.

A patient can pay to see a consultant privately. If the patient needs an operation and wants to go publicl they can't go onto the waiting list for the operation, until they have served the amount of time it would have taken on the waiting list to see the consultant.

I attach Circular 5/91 which is the official statement on the matter.

I was in hospital this week and I heard this being enforced in several occasions. I was astonished at his annoyed people were as I assumed most people knew this was the case.

Hi Newbie!

That is very interesting. I was wondering how it is enforced in public.

Brendan

I was in a specialist public hospital and the admissions office isnt the most discretely place so I could hear every conversation as I waited. I suspect in many circumstances, people genuinely weren't aware that what they were doing was wrong. There were no signs to support the verbal notifications which might have helped in enforcing the message.

Hi Newbie!

What were they doing that was wrong?

Were they trying to get on the public waiting list and were they told to wait until they had used up the equivalent time on the public list to see a consultant?

Brendan

From what I could understand, they had been seeing a consultant privately and when they needed surgery/a procedure they had been put onto the public list as the wait times were actually pretty reasonable. How they moved to the public list, I'm unsure. The admissions office in the hospital didn't seen to know how to deal with then either and was referring them to the nurse managers which I thought was a little silly as it certainly wouldn't be their remit to sort out the admissions paperwork

In recent days there has been a rush of people taking out new polices in order to beat the deadline and associated loading on premiums for those aged 35 and over.

Many of the lower cost polices averaging around €400 focus on offering a private or semi private bed in a public hospital, however, on closer examination that is about all these plans offer. People are shocked to find they rarely jump the queue for the procedures they require and they have to join the waiting list like everyone else.

Are people being misled into taking out these polices thinking they will have faster access to treatment when the reality is very different?

Leading ophthalmologist Professor Michael O'Keeffe, of the Mater Hospital in Dublin, said he was seeing two to three insured patients a week in this predicament. "I am seeing more and more patients upset. When they look to their insurance for cover they want, it is not there. They are being sold these policies with a view that they have special privileges in public hospital.

"They may be covered for a private bed in a public hospital and believe they can jump the queue," said Prof O'Keeffe.

"But they are finding they have to wait in line and that they receive no privileges when it comes to quicker access."

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http://www.independent.ie/irish-new...ng-patients-on-to-waiting-lists-31069277.html

Moneybox,

The issue you raise has been highlighted at various times on both radio and newspaper articles by Dermot Goode etc in the run up
to the 30th April deadline. It was also mentioned on this forum a few times recently, and the cheap alternatives discussed in detail.

In fairness to Prof O'Keeffe who first brought it to the public's attention in a radio interview which was taken seriously at the time, as
he's on the frontline dealing with the public everyday. This issue he highlighted came about as a direct result of the introduction of bed re-designation in the public hospitals on Jan 1st 2014. This was something that was discussed and highlighted by professional brokers etc at the time about the impact on health insurance plans regarding public hospital cover and waiting times. Changes like these sometimes slip in under the radar and the reality of these changes only hit home when it's spelled out in black and white by a highly respected consultant like Prof Michael O'Keeffe. Its a real eye opener as to what's really happening behind the scenes.


There's an insightful explanation of 'the introduction of bed re-designation' Jan 1st 2014 in the following article;
[broken link removed]


A lot of people signing up to the cheap basic level plans, just want to avoid the loading at the minimum cost. They probably don't
envisage using the policy anytime soon and intend to upgrade in due course.
These basic plans cover the 75 euro per night charge if you are admitted to a public hospital.
They also fully cover MRI, CT and PET CT scans in direct payment public hospitals and scan centres, I don't know what the waiting times are like and I'm also not sure if the same rules apply to scans that applies to surgery in public hospitals. Another grey area, if anyone has experience of this, it would be interesting to hear.

There's an interesting article in this morning's Irish Independent, regarding the estimated figures who signed up, double the original
estimate. Also, there's supposedly an equal divide of people choosing basic public plans and private cover plans, figures not confirmed yet.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-new...p-to-100000-go-for-health-cover-31192835.html

Lastly, if anyone is having second thoughts, having signed up to a basic plan, you have upto 14th May 2015 to change your mind.

Regards, Snowyb

begs the Question do we need Private Insurance, Can someone Give us the Pros and Cons of the Advantages of Having Private Insurance and Disadvantages

faolteam said:

begs the Question do we need Private Insurance, Can someone Give us the Pros and Cons of the Advantages of Having Private Insurance and Disadvantages

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Quite simply you have a far better chance of living if you have private insurance.

noproblem said:

Quite simply you have a far better chance of living if you have private insurance.

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you can just pay cash for the treatment? or will hospitals allow you to do that without making a fuss? why would it matter of XYZ Ins Co paid or you paid yourself?

Contributions here are over several years. Furthermore, hospital treatments/waiting times vary from illness to illness, procedures, locations etc. It might help if the thread was split between maternity, cardiac, etc.

Somebody questioned the need for private health insurance. If you develop a heart condition you need the private insurance. If you develop cancer you need private health insurance. Time is of the essence. Not having private health insurance is rolling the dice.