cloughy,
Firstly, just to highlight that Flex 175 Explore has reduced hi-tech cover since April 2017. There is just cardiac and orthopaedic cover in the
2 hi-tech hospitals Mater Private and Blackrock clinic, full cover in the Beacon as before but no other surgery covered in the Mater Private or Blackrock Clinic.
To maintain the full range of cover as before, the following Laya plan 'Control 300 Create' is worth considering;
1. Control 300 Create; price 1042pa, all public, private(including private room fully covered), + 3 hi-tech hospitals covered as before,
private/hi-tech excess 300 per admission, 125 excess per day case. Good day to day cover included 80 refund per consultant visit, 30 per GP visit,
etc with a 1 euro excess.
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2. + 3
For a similar plan with a lower excess, it will cost 1170 Total Health Complete or 1179 Simply Connect (no private room cover in private hospitals
on these plans), semi private room covered as before.
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If full cover for Mater Private or Blackrock Clinic is not a deal breaker for you, the plan 'Essential Health 300' @ 895pa is a good alternative.
4. Essential Health 300; price 895pa; all public, private and Beacon hospital covered, just cardiac and orthopaedic fully covered in the Mater Private and Blackrock Clinic, private excess 300 x 2 max per year for all admissions, day case excess 125.
Very limited day to day cover on this plan.
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Children; Their current plan 'Essential Connect Family' is best value at the moment with the 2 for price of 1 offer.
Hope this explains your options clearly. I didn't include VHI plans as they still cover 80% for orthopaedic surgery. PMI 44 16 @ 1102pa or
Company Plan Plus Level 1.2 @ 1128pa(from 1 March 2018) are similar alternatives with hi-tech hospital cover as before.
Regards, Snowyb