renewal of health insurance January 2020

M

mariemari

Registered User
Messages
2
HI
My health insurance is up for renewal in January 2020. We are a couple with an 18 year old daughter all on the same plan at present VHI one plan 150. We lost our insurance in 2009 because of cutbacks so had to rejoined and start from scratch in 2015. Realistically The type of plan we need going forward needs to cover MRI's, neuro surgery orthopedic and cardio. I am having an MRI scan done in late January because of headaches and balance issues but I don't know if I'll be covered if I move providers in the meantime. I find the whole insurance cover (are you or aren't you) very very stressful. Is there any plans you could recommend for us as a couple and one for our 18 year old daughter who is fit and healthy. Also our insurance is presently being part paid for by my husbands employer however, he has the impression that his employer only deals with VHI? Could this be right? I thought an employer had to give its employees the option of all health cover providers?

Thanks

MarieMari
 
Hi MarieMari,

Welcome to AAM.
Your husband would need to find out if his employer only deals with VHI or if other providers are an option.
As you are based in Cork, the following 2 hospitals fully cover MRI scans on referral from a consultant or a gp. VHI will pay for the MRI directly to
the scan centre, you don't pay anything.

GP or Consultant Referral - fully covered by VHI
1. Southscan MRI, South Infirmary Cork - gp or consultant referral, fully covered, VHI pay directly, you don't pay.
2. Alliance Mater Private hospital Cork - gp or consultant referral, fully covered, VHI pay directly, you don't pay.

Consultant Referral only - fully covered by VHI.
A number of Cork hospitals fully cover MRI scans with VHI paying directly but only on referral from a consultant only.
If you have a referral from a gp, you pay for the MRI upfront and submit a claim for a partial refund, subject to an excess of 125 per scan.
1. Bons Secours Cork - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.
2. Alliance 20:20 Imaging Mercy hospital Cork - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.
3. Alliance Cork University hospital - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.
4. Consultants Private Clinic @ Cork University Hospital - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.

GP only referral
If you have a gp referral for the MRI in the following scan centres, you would have to pay for the MRI upfront on the day and submit a claim subject to
a 125 excess per scan.
1. Alliance - 20;20 Imaging Mercy hospital Cork
2. Alliance - Cork University Hospital
3. Bons Secours Cork
4. Alliance - Consultants Private Clinic at Cork University Hospital

The following plans are worth considering with VHI, details as follows;
1. VHI PMI 07 10; price 1240pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals (dublin) covered, private excess capped at 150 x 1 max per year for all
private hospital admissions, day case excess 50 per procedure. Good day to day cover included, refund of 50% for gp, consultant visits, etc
up to a max refund per year of 1000.

2. Company Plan Plus Level 1.3; price 1193pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, private excess 150 per admission, day case excess
50 per procedure. There is no excess to pay in any public hospital. Good day to day cover included, refund of 50% for gp, consultant visits, etc
upto a max refund of 1000 per year.

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/...Mb2NrIjpmYWxzZSwicGxhbl9kZXRhaWxfaWQiOi0xfX1d

You can check a facility finder with VHI to see what hospitals or scan centres are covered on a certain plan.
https://www.vhi.ie/members/facility-finder

Regards, Snowyb
 
Last edited:
snowyb said:
Hi MarieMari,

Welcome to AAM.
Your husband would need to find out if his employer only deals with VHI or if other providers are an option.
As you are based in Cork, the following 2 hospitals fully cover MRI scans on referral from a consultant or a gp. VHI will pay for the MRI directly to
the scan centre, you don't pay anything.

GP or Consultant Referral - fully covered by VHI
1. Southscan MRI, South Infirmary Cork - gp or consultant referral, fully covered, VHI pay directly, you don't pay.
2. Alliance Mater Private hospital Cork - gp or consultant referral, fully covered, VHI pay directly, you don't pay.

Consultant Referral only - fully covered by VHI.
A number of Cork hospitals fully cover MRI scans with VHI paying directly but only on referral from a consultant only.
If you have a referral from a gp, you pay for the MRI upfront and submit a claim for a partial refund, subject to an excess of 125 per scan.
1. Bons Secours Cork - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.
2. Alliance 20:20 Imaging Mercy hospital Cork - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.
3. Alliance Cork University hospital - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.
4. Consultants Private Clinic @ Cork University Hospital - on referral from a consultant only it is fully covered and paid directly by VHI, you don't pay anything.

GP only referral
If you have a gp referral for the MRI in the following scan centres, you would have to pay for the MRI upfront on the day and submit a claim subject to
a 125 excess per scan.
1. Alliance - 20;20 Imaging Mercy hospital Cork
2. Alliance - Cork University Hospital
3. Bons Secours Cork
4. Alliance - Consultants Private Clinic at Cork University Hospital

The following plans are worth considering with VHI, details as follows;
1. VHI PMI 07 10; price 1240pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals (dublin) covered, private excess capped at 150 x 1 max per year for all
private hospital admissions, day case excess 50 per procedure. Good day to day cover included, refund of 50% for gp, consultant visits, etc
up to a max refund per year of 1000.

2. Company Plan Plus Level 1.3; price 1193pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered, private excess 150 per admission, day case excess
50 per procedure. There is no excess to pay in any public hospital. Good day to day cover included, refund of 50% for gp, consultant visits, etc
upto a max refund of 1000 per year.

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/...Mb2NrIjpmYWxzZSwicGxhbl9kZXRhaWxfaWQiOi0xfX1d

You can check a facility finder with VHI to see what hospitals or scan centres are covered on a certain plan.
https://www.vhi.ie/members/facility-finder

Regards, Snowyb
Click to expand...
HI Snowyb

Thank you so much for your reply. Its really appreciated!. One last question.....If I'm NOT tied to VHI what plan would you recommend for us and our 18 year old. Does another provider have something better for us?

Thanks

MarieMari
 
MarieMari,

If you are not tied to VHI, the following plans are alternative options;

1. Laya Inspire plan; adult price 1140pa; all public, private and 3 hi-tech hospitals covered; private excess 150 per admission, day case excess 50
per procedure. Good day to day cover included, 1 euro excess, refund of 50% for consultant visits, gp, dental etc upto a max refund of 1000 per year.
Note; regarding MRI scans covered directly by Laya, the only option in Cork is Affidea Cork, The Elysian, Eglington Street. For any other
scan centres, you would pay yourself upfront and claim back a 50% refund in an outpatient claim.
https://www.layahealthcare.ie/hospitals/#/hospitals?view=scans&planID=97

2. Irish Life Benefit plan; price 965pa; all public, private and Beacon hospital Dublin covered, private excess capped at 200 x 2 max per year for all
admissions, day case excess 125 per procedure. Very limited day to day cover on this plan. Note; Irish Life have a more extensive list of scan
centres that they pay directly for MRI scans in Cork. Details in the following link(they are in alphabetical order);
https://www.irishlifehealth.ie/Iris...ital-lists/other-facilities-facility-list.pdf

For your 18 year old, VHI are best price and most competitive for young adults age 18+. So either One Plan 150, PMI 07 10 or Company Plan Plus
Level 1.3 would be the best options.

Regards, Snowyb
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top