Hi daiscath,
Many families, who availed of the free kids offer this time last year, are now facing the same situation as yourselves.
Free kids offers have become a thing of the past and families are now struggling to keep children on their policy.
Due to constant price increases over the last few years, many people are making the switch, however reluctantly,
to other providers. The way I see it is, hospitals and doctors remain the same, only difference is another company is
paying the bill. I also switched provider in Nov 2012 from Vhi for years, to Laya Healthcare. I'm prepared to give something
new a try and see how it goes.
A health insurance policy is just a one year contract so it can be changed each year according to a persons requirements, both
medically and financially. In the past, people stayed on the same plan for years with the same provider without question, which
wasn't a healthy position to be in as a customer.
As already mentioned in previous posts, the best value plan at the moment is with Laya Healthcare called;
Total Health Choice Adult price 874pa
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?97&323/
Cheapest kids plan at present is also with Laya Healthcare as follows:
Health Smart price 130 per child (good hospital, limited outpatients)
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?289&294/
The same plan with outpatients included is as follows;
Health Smart Family price 200 per child (good hosp + good outpatients)
www.hia.ie/ci/comparison/step3?289&295/
Note a 3% charge applies if you pay by instalments with Laya.
So, overall cost of 2 adults on Total Health Choice 2 x 874 = 1748
cost of 4 kids on Health Smart plan 4 x 130 = 520
Total cost 2268 + 3% = 2336
Not sure if this is within your budget but well worth checking out, food for thought.
Snowyb