VHI Clinics

AugustusMaximus

Just wondering. I am insured under B plan on the VHI.

If I visit a VHI Swiftcare clinic am I entitled to much of the cost back under my insurance ?

Dr Galen

you should prob give VHI a call as even though the policies are standard across the board, the reimbursement each individual gets is determined by several other factors

RobFowl

You'll get a small discount but it will still cost you a small fortune.
GP or AE depending on the condition IMO will give you far more appropriate care. Swiftcare caters for "minor" injuries and illnesses.

AugustusMaximus

Think I may have done either ligament or cartilage damage to my knee.

Not the place to go so ?

I'm guessing its either that or go to A&E and wait hours and hours ?


According to the VHI website.

From 1st January 2009, all Vhi Healthcare LifeStage Choices members will get €75 off the initial consultation fee of €105 at any of the 5 Vhi SwiftCare Clinics

Does this mean I'll only be charged €30 and maybe more if I need an X-Ray etc.

MagicMarker

I'd say your GP would refer you to a specialist, but if you're in a bad way and need to be tended to ASAP then I guess the A&E is the place to be.

*edit* I'm just too damn poetic sometimes.

Prime Mover

I really don't understand threads like this. Why don't you pick up the phone and call them?

RobFowl

Prime Mover wrote: »

I really don't understand threads like this. Why don't you pick up the phone and call them?

because they'll say come one down and pay us a small fortune!

Plus 10

RobFowl wrote: »

because they'll say come one down and pay us a small fortune!

Not sure how accurate your comment is - I was there recently - was treated at 8pm in the evening - had to make no appointment - was only waiting 10 mins max - very professional service - paid €30 (yes I am a VHI member).

Compare that to trying to get an appointment with the local doctor - waiting 30 mins beyond the appointment time and paying twice the price - I know which I would recommend.

AugustusMaximus

Plus 10 wrote: »

Not sure how accurate your comment is - I was there recently - was treated at 8pm in the evening - had to make no appointment - was only waiting 10 mins max - very professional service - paid €30 (yes I am a VHI member).

Compare that to trying to get an appointment with the local doctor - waiting 30 mins beyond the appointment time and paying twice the price - I know which I would recommend.

I'm guessing B option on VHI would also get me the 75 Euro discount off of the standard 105 Euro price ?

Dr Galen

dude not trying to be snotty here, but have you called the VHI yet??? As far as I know none of the regualrs here work for the VHI so tbh I don't think anyone is going to be able to answer your specific question.

RobFowl

From 1st January 2009, all Vhi Healthcare LifeStage Choices members will get €75 off the initial consultation fee of €105 at any of the 5 Vhi SwiftCare Clinics.
Even better, the €75 will be deducted there and then, so you’ll only have to pay €30 for your initial consultation. The €75 benefit is available for up to 5 visits per member per year on any LifeStage Choices plan.

That from the VHI site

http://www.vhi-healthcare.com/swiftcare/

drzhivago

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

I'm guessing B option on VHI would also get me the 75 Euro discount off of the standard 105 Euro price ?

I think you need to call as suggested

There is a big difference in what VHI plans cover, you mention plan B, that provides benefits mainly for in hospital stays and operations

The Lifetsages/choices plans cover outpatient (like Swiftcare and GP costs) more than they cover hospital care so you may not get much benefit unless you go above the excess of the Plan B which I think is €300 (but am liable to be corrected)

To respond to another commentator re GP fees and also Swiftcare. VHI is a massive company, it can afford to build these premises out of the costs of all its plans, you are really not paying €30 for your visit, it is €105 and then as an individual you are subsidised.

You do not pay your GP a fee just to become a member of his practice (as you do to VHI with any of their lifestage plans), the GP does not have a massive number of people buying membership from him, the costs are substantial. If a family actually costed what they pay a GP annually it would be quite small.

I have been lucky in life, I rented accommodation and only bought a house once, have not moved. We paid £2,500 to a solicitor to facilitate that transaction. In 15 years we have just about spent that sum on GP care for our kids and ourselves. I think we need to look at our value systems and what is important

In Japan, people have 3-4 visits to GP per year to maintain health, over their lives they may have a smaller spend than us as a race who wait until we are sick with complications to go to a GP when potentially there will be higher costs when they pick up other problems that exist (diabetes, hypertensions etc) when we were there for a different reason.

Had we really a system of preventive care people would go to GPS more often and should be fitter as a consequence.

CAVEAT I am not a GP, I am a doctor and I have a chronic illness so have regular contacts. I very much value the relationship our kids have with their GP and bring them for my own visits so they see it is not a scary place (it helps that he has a bucket of lollipops too)