Health Insurance Insurance for parents in their 70s

L

laragh

Registered User
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Looking for options for my parents in their mid 70's .
Both of them have a medical card
They have always had private health insurance and want to keep it going
They both have had health issues in the last couple of years- mother had cataracts removed will likely need a hip replacements if she is fit for it - also has developed mild diabetes (if there is such a thing!!)
Father had pancreatitis a year ago - fully recovered and had gall bladder out. Flying again thankfully.
Both of them seem to be getting scans and blood tests to beat the band at the minute but I think they have a new GP and they are just being cautious.
Anyway I think cover in the private hospital in the north of Dublin city (parents live north of the pale) would be best.
Wont need any cover for GPs or prescriptions due to the medical card
Currently on Layas Simply Connect - that policy has gone up €394 each this year so almost €790 for the two of them.
Any suggestions on an alternative?
 
Most of the most popular policies have jumped in price this year. I'm in your parents demographic both age and health-wise, and have gone with Simply Connect Plus again this renewal month as being still the best cover and value for money I can find.

Obviously your parents want to retain full orthpaedic and ophthalmic cover, in which case downgrading to a cheaper policy would almost certainly mean lower Everyday cover (eg for scans, consultant visits), and/or higher hospital excesses. This could be a false economy, and in any case I'm not sure a policy downgrade at my/their time of life is a wise move. In fact I upgraded from Simply Connect to Simply Connect Plus a few years ago because the latter has a higher Everyday limit, and the extra cost pays for itself.
 
I am undecided too. Both myself and OH in 60s are on Laya Power plan. It currently costs 315 a month. Its going up at renewal to 391 per month. I phoned Laya about any alternative plans and Laya suggested Simply Connect 341.93 per month is the closest in cover to Power
 
messyleo said:
What about Level Health Plan D?
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Great plan, very comprehensive, but expensive compared with Power or Simply Connect/Plus.
If you're unlikely to claim back more than €500 in Everyday expenses then Simply Connect could be a good bet. Hope this helps

Simply Connect €1992 pp per annum from 1 Jan
Simply Connect Plus €2144
Simplicity €2201
Power €2283
Level health Plan D €2536
 
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Thank you MCT1 thats a great help and a very good point about the everyday expenses..Over last few years one or other of us would have claimed around 1000 a year between consultants visits, dental and optical. Might just Power on for another year.
 
You could look at Laya Simplicity €2201.43 as against €2282.73 for Laya Power.
The outpatient excess is just €1 in Power v €100 in Simplicity.
However the maximum everyday expenses is €1k of the €7650 outpatient limit on Power.
There is no maximum everyday expense stipulated for Simplicity, so I'm assuming you could, theoretically use the full €7650 here?!
I don't see any other differences in these policies.
 
charlie007 said:
Yes indeed. Also the excess itself is a bit lower in Simplicity.
We must all weigh up these things and hopefully come to the right conclusion?!
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It's not easy since we can never know for sure what medical claims we'll be making over the next year, just take a best guess based on our previous health issues.

Don't forget you can change your Laya policy for a different (Laya) one any time during the year. Everyday benefits kick in straight away, with the usual waiting period for changes in hospital benefits etc. I may yet upgrade mine to Power or Simplicity for better Beacon Hospital cover in the years ahead. It's good to have that option.
 
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