Health policy Private Health Insurance (PHI) - Between Jobs

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ArthurMcB

Registered User
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Hi,

I had PHI, through my former employment.

I quit and started a new job and there was about 2 weeks break between both roles.

When I started new role, again I had PHI with new employer. I started new role on, say 15th July.

My son had a minor procedure on, say 20th July.

It seems though that I did not have cover on this dste becasue the PHI with new employer only kicks in on 1st of month following commencement of new role.

Therefore, it seems the medical bill is on me.

Is there anything I can do in this scenario? It seems like bad luck/bad planning on my part that I didnt know this or look in to this. I assumed we had our usual family PHI cover.

Any advice very welcome.
Thanks
 
You can have a break in cover of up to 13 weeks without having to serve waiting periods etc. afresh.

Waiting periods

When you take out health insurance for the first time, or it has been more than 13 weeks since you last held private health insurance, you may have to serve waiting periods before you are fully covered, but accident and injury will be covered immediately.
www.hia.ie www.hia.ie
However if you don't have cover at the time of an incident then obviously there's no policy to claim against. Unless your employer can do something to make the cover apply retrospectively for you (I doubt it though)?

Since it was a minor procedure presumably the costs aren't onerous? You may be able to claim tax relief on the costs incurred.

Health expenses

This page overviews how you can claim relief on the cost of health expenses
www.revenue.ie www.revenue.ie
 
It was minor but still costly. I will ask my HR if anything can be done about it.

I woukd have thought that my employment benefits such as PHI, are active on 1st day of emploment. I certainly was unaware that this was not the case.
 
As I understand it, your employer will have the best negotiating power with their PHI. There is likely a main point of contact in your new company(possibly HR) that deals with a main point of contact in the PHI company. The PHI will value your company's business and MIGHT have some flexibility.

I had a situation in the past where my son, had PHI under my scheme but was technically not covered for a particular procedure (I realised too late). But my company put a case to the PHI and got sorted that way.
 
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