Hi and thanks for all the input:
To respond to some of your comments
1 - I don't think Travel insurance will be adequate but worth investigating.
2 - AVIVA to allow for treatment overseas but it is not ideal. We have to get approval first, which is not going to be possible in all cases, i.e. emergency treatment. If approval is given we have to pay the bill and then recalim from AVIVA. Also AVIVA will only pay what the treatmetn would have cost in Ireland which could leave a substantial deficit. We attended A&E in Canada before and there was a $500 charge compared to the €100 you pay at home.
The trouble with travel insurance and or keeping my Irish Health Insurance is that in the event of an emergency, you spend your time looking for documents and on the phone to some office in Ireland seeing if they will cover you instead of concentrating on the family member that needs the attention. I have been there before and it is horrible. We really need proper Healt INsurance cover for the 3 month period.
3 - Canadian Healt Insurance is definately worth looking into.
4 - I will see if I can pay the VHI Global policy monthly and cancel after 3 months.
thanks again and if anyone finds a cheaper proper health insurance option please do let me know.