Health Insurance VHI to scrap Health Plus (Plan B) from 1st May 2024

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arbitron

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Customers urged to shop around as VHI to scrap four popular plans on 1 May

 
Perhaps others will know more here - but the impression I have is older VHI members never changed their subscription either out of fear, ignorance or simply inertia. It appears these policies were among the most expensive and could have been renegotiated even with VHI for almost identical cover at much cheaper premiums.

I don't know the VHI logic unless they are reducing some part of the cover e.g. psychiatric cover of 180 days versus 120 days in alternative. Does anybody know?

This could be very stressful for these older people - and despite work by Dermot Goode from Total Health cover.ie (a Lockton company) he reckons many people could be affected and may need assistance.
 
Seems like those who were on that plan for long time have now been given a reason to overcome the inertia, and in many cases leave VHI. Is it a move by VHI to try to shed some older customers? Or am I being too cynical and it is a move in the right direction re: simplification of plans.
 
WizardDr said:
I don't know the VHI logic unless they are reducing some part of the cover e.g. psychiatric cover of 180 days versus 120 days in alternative. Does anybody know?
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From my observations (and I could be wrong because insured with VHI) it would appear to be more to do with the 100% cover for orthopaedic and ophthalmic procedures which Laya are more inclined to provide at a realistic premium. VHI have been charging the mad money on the policies being discussed at present because they are providing only 80%/60% on lots of their cheaper policies.
 
All of the VHI Health Plus / Health Access plans have now disappeared from the HIA website making it impossible to compare them to alternative plans.

 
Does anyone know how I could find out how many people are signed up to these plans?

VHI (and others) have retired plans in the past and it inconveniences customers. These are really popular plans and I believe that it's going to cause an awful lot of confusion for an awful lot of customers.
 
Really unhappy about removal of these plans - my elderly parents have been on health plus premium for years and now I can't even find the closest alternative for them as the HIA tool has removed them from the comparison options.
Does anyone know a good similar alternative for health plus premium VHI - looking to keep cover as much the same as possible i.e. need excellent hi tech cover
 
messyleo said:
Does anyone know a good similar alternative for health plus premium VHI - looking to keep cover as much the same as possible i.e. need excellent hi tech cover
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If you have a look at the two Laya policies in this HIA comparison they might help but not cheap. They do appear to give the 100% cover for ortho/ophth which is very unusual these days and you will need to confirm if the hi-tech cover is satisfactory for your parents' needs. I do have preference for VHI but God alone knows how much it would cost for that cover with them.

This previous AAM thread has references to the same two policies mentioned in the comparison Laya Simplicity and Laya Control 300 Create.

Look carefully at the excesses also as there appear to be quite a number. The day-to-day cover appears to be ok only, because you are getting the better ortho/ophth and possibly hi-tech.

I would also recommend ringing VHI and sound them out.

A health broker would be a good idea if you have access to Cornmarket. www.totalhealthcover.ie with their fee based service might be able to help but they usually have a waiting list.
 
Thanks sue ellen - at least some options there to help me do some research! Much appreciated
 
I contacted Eoin O'Broin about this issue and he submitted a Parliamentary Question - https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-06-27/237/#pq-answers-237


This is the response from the Dept. of Health

 

Was reading back over last Saturday's Indo (6/7/'24) today when I came across a reply from Charlie Weston about VHI and these type of policies. Can't find it online so it goes as follows and hope that this is helpful/relevant:

We are a retired couple on VHI Health Plus Extra which is no longer available. What would you recommend as my renewal is coming up?

For members looking for equivalent cover with VHI, health insurance expert Dermot Goode of TotalHealthCover.ie suggests you first consider either Advanced Care Extra @ €3,327 per adult or Advanced Care Extra Day-to-Day @ €3,543 per adult. The latter plan is more expensive as it includes better refunds on eligible out-patient expenses, he said.

If you are willing to take on more excesses, especially in the high-tech hospitals, you could also consider the like of VHI Advanced Care 50 Day-to-Day which will reduce your cost to €2,527 per adult. Before switching to any of these alternatives, it would be important to discuss the specific benefit differentials with VHI to ensure any new plan matches your exact requirements, Mr. Goode said.

If you are open to switching insurer, there are other options in the market such as the Laya Momentum scheme @ €2,370 per adult, which, he said, is worth considering. There will be no break in cover once they switch from the time you are due to renew and you will get full credit for the time served with VHI in accordance with the health insurance legislation in Ireland.
 
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