Health Insurance???

Glowing

I’m 27 and trying to organize health insurance for the first time. I’m absolutely baffled at the various policies offered by different companies, the small print, the ‘plus’ options etc. I just found out that with VHI, you need 12 months notice if you want to increase your maternity cover!!

Can anyone recommend a company whos policies are clear, and who are not trying to rip you off at every corner …!

Your help would be greatly appreciated, before I tear my hair out!!

Suzywuzy

I'm with Quinn Health Insurance and hate the thoughts of reading up on it ... only joined last September as I wasnt covered with my Dads anymore once I turned 23. I'm so lazy when it comes to reading these things. Does my head in !!!

Try Vivas too ... heard a girl in work on about them and that they're good.

Saruman

Vivas is a little more simple to read about. Since there are only 2 of them (health insurers) though... you only have two others to look at

Donal94

I've had VHI all my life and just switched to Quinn today to a fairly basic policy. Quinn and Vivas offer the cheapest policies, Quinn essential is only €370 per person and has pretty much everything a young person needs. The older you get the more you need, everyone keeps telling me to start with the cheapest and improve the policy as I get older so thats what I'm gonna do.

broker2008

Firstly you need to ask yourself why are you getting private insurance ? Is it a just in case I need it and I want to be able to have access to a consultant with a shorter waiting time etc etc or is it I want to be able to get a private single room in the best hospital when i need it.

If the choice of hospital, eg Mater & Vincents is not relevant and you don't mind sharing a private room, this will bring the cost down. Both Vivas & Quinn are cheaper than VHI. Many wonder if Vivas will be around in a couple of years as they could be gone or bought out. I have no personal experience of Quinn.

Options or plus may not be worth the extra money to pay for the extra cover.

VHI Option B and equivalents from Quinn & Vivas would be a good starting point.

Glowing

Hi, thanks for all the replies!

I have been thinking about this and am actually trying to figure out exactly why I might need health insurance. I'm young (27 - well not so young) and healthy, and the only reason I'd want cover is for Accidents and Emergencies, and for maternity cover (although I don't plan to have kids for at least 2 years). I could afford to pay for a couple of consultants appointments if necessary, and the liklihood of me needing anything more before I'm 30 is slim.

I guess its the same reasoning most people go through. It's a complete waste of money, unless you need it. But you actually want it to be a waste of money

Do all you have private health insurance? And do you think it's dead money?

Scruff

Glowing wrote: »

Do all you have private health insurance? And do you think it's dead money?

like all insurance it dead money until you need to make a claim and then you'll probably be glad you had it given the cost of medical procedures here.

Nermal

Scruff wrote: »

given the cost of medical procedures here.

The cost of medical procedures here is zero.

Athina

Nermal wrote: »

The cost of medical procedures here is zero.

Its zero cost if you have a medical card and you prepared to wait weeks, months and possible years before you gain access to a specialist and then be forced back on to a waiting list to wait months again before you are allocated a hospital bed. The health system in this country is in a diabolical state, a two tier system, one for the poor and one for the insured. I would advise anybody if they can at all, to subscribe to private health insuance. We shouldn't have to do this, however, the litany of complaints and suffering people are having to endure under the public health system is nothing short of appaling and a national disgrace.

Fulton Crown

Scruff wrote: »

like all insurance it dead money until you need to make a claim and then you'll probably be glad you had it given the cost of medical procedures here.

A lot of people making the mistake of equating price with value.

If are 27 and wish to have access to medical care when required you DO need medical insurance.

It's not dead money - there is the peace of mind benefit (a cliche I know but true nonetheless)

A company may be the cheapest - but how will they deal with your claim ?

For my money VHI lifestage level 1 is the best plan for you.

Fulton Crown

Donal94 wrote: »

I've had VHI all my life and just switched to Quinn today to a fairly basic policy. Quinn and Vivas offer the cheapest policies, Quinn essential is only €370 per person and has pretty much everything a young person needs. The older you get the more you need, everyone keeps telling me to start with the cheapest and improve the policy as I get older so thats what I'm gonna do.

Watch out for the waiting periods that all companies apply to cover upgrades - also moves are afoot to apply additional levys to people who take out H.Ins later in life

Athina

Donal94 wrote: »

I've had VHI all my life and just switched to Quinn today to a fairly basic policy. Quinn and Vivas offer the cheapest policies, Quinn essential is only €370 per person and has pretty much everything a young person needs. The older you get the more you need, everyone keeps telling me to start with the cheapest and improve the policy as I get older so thats what I'm gonna do.

You are dead right in what you say, anyone who is young and healthy doesnt need an expensive health insurance policy. All you need is a basic policy which will give you access to a consultant when required and not some junior doctor with a year or two experience under his belt. Quinn offers the best deals at the moment, not sure about vivas they only hold about 3% of the market and VHI are very expensive even for their most basic policy.
As another poster said, health insurance companies will soon be charging far more to people aged over 40 who will be taking out health insurance for the first time. In effect the older you get the more likely you are going to suffer ill health and young healthy subscribers do not like having to pay excessive premiums for older and sicker people.

Athina

Glowing wrote: »

Hi, thanks for all the replies!

the only reason I'd want cover is for Accidents and Emergencies, and for maternity cover (although I don't plan to have kids for at least 2 years).

The only place where you will not jump the queue with private medical insurance is Accident and Emergency, you join the queue alongside rich and poor and are treated according to severity of symptoms and rightly so.

Do all you have private health insurance? And do you think it's dead money?

yes I do and it sure isn't dead money, in fact I would probadly be dead without it. I wouldn't be without health insurance for all the tea in China

Fulton Crown

Athina wrote: »

young healthy subscribers do not like having to pay excessive premiums for older and sicker people.

No they don't..but what they forget is that they, like us all, will join the older and sicker cohort at some stage !

Then if there are no young healthy subscribers they will find that at the time they most need it it will be unafordable...

Athina

Fulton Crown wrote: »

No they don't..but what they forget is that they, like us all, will join the older and sicker cohort at some stage !

Then if there are no young healthy subscribers they will find that at the time they most need it it will be unafordable...

Then maybe the government of the time will have no choice but face up to their responsibilities and ensure that a properly resourced and well run public health system in place. For too long they have focused on the economic development of the country and have given little or no heed to the health and social needs of its people.