VHI premiums to rise by 15% from 1 February

FlutterinBantam

lizt wrote: »

You shouldn't be waiting for longer than 3 months but it happens. The staff shortage are unreal at the minute, both my parents work in hospitals where several ward have had to be closed due to staff shortages, clinics being cancelled etc.

Because of the embargo on hiring new staff, the health service is currently severely understaffed.

What is the absentee rate... any idea??

oppenheimer1

Why blame the VHI? the reason the premia are rising is due to the costs involved in healthcare. Overpaid hospital consultants and assorted staff and the willingness of people to pay anything when it comes to their healthcare.

The cost of health insurance is only going to go one way due to an aging population and the fact that people generally value personal health more than anything else - and are willing to pay for it.

Run_to_da_hills

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

The cost of health insurance is only going to go one way due to an aging population and the fact that people generally value personal health more than anything else - and are willing to pay for it.

Not necessarily, many in the past have taken private health insurance completely for granted when their employees paid for it.

Now that some have being laid off many have dropped it altogether when encountered with more imp[ortant debts such as mortgage repayments, some may be elegible for free medical cards others taking the chance of not having anything. Either way this move by VHI will have an negative impact on themselves and will serve them right.

FlutterinBantam

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Why blame the VHI? the reason the premia are rising is due to the costs involved in healthcare. Overpaid hospital consultants and assorted staff and the willingness of people to pay anything when it comes to their healthcare.

Correct and right, way too many snouts in the trough by a long shot

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

The cost of health insurance is only going to go one way due to an aging population and the fact that people generally value personal health more than anything else - and are willing to pay for it.

Incorrect, the 'aging population' have being paying for for health care from way back.

it is a factor but not by any means the only one.


The problem is the cost of healthcare has gone mad and is unsustainable.


However people like Doran et al have far far too much power in this whole scenario,


Time to take these vested interests on.

brianwalshcork

If you switch insurers, is there usually an initial lock out/ no claim period as there would be if you sign up for the first time with a private health insurer?

brianwalshcork

brianwalshcork wrote: »

If you switch insurers, is there usually an initial lock out/ no claim period as there would be if you sign up for the first time with a private health insurer?

no

Run_to_da_hills

brianwalshcork wrote: »

If you switch insurers, is there usually an initial lock out/ no claim period as there would be if you sign up for the first time with a private health insurer?

No and on top of that you cannot be tied down to contract even if you only signed up with an insurer recently. I moved from Quinn to Aviva just a month after I entered a new contract.

Ronin247

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Indeed indeed.And why are are these price increases happening my friends?


Health service stake holders have their heads firmly jammed in the trough, in balls deep.

All the vested interests, consultants, nurses, doctors , paras, and all the ancillary stuff are balls deep in the trough which is being filled by John Q Taxpayer.

We are being ridden roughshod by the vested interests in the Health Service.


Who will call these gimps out and put a bit of reality into the situation.


Dr J.?

I agree with the above and also feel that part of the problem is that the politicians want it this way.We pay enough into the health service to have a first rate free system.

If we have long delays then people will go to "johnny" the local council or Dail representative who will get you bumped to the front of the queue.Now you owe him a vote for something that was yours already!!

This game is played with planning permission,medical cards,grants,dole and even childrens allowance.It is systemic and will continue untill there is a change in our collective party political thinking.

The election is coming.

End of rant

Agent J

brianwalshcork wrote: »

If you switch insurers, is there usually an initial lock out/ no claim period as there would be if you sign up for the first time with a private health insurer?

Just to clarify. You have a 3 month window between plans.
If you switch within that time you cannot be held to any lock out/no claim.

LizT

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

What is the absentee rate... any idea??

Wouldn't have a clue to be honest, but even if every member of staff was in every day the health service would still be seriously understaffed.

ascanbe

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Indeed indeed.And why are are these price increases happening my friends?


Health service stake holders have their heads firmly jammed in the trough, in balls deep.

All the vested interests, consultants, nurses, doctors , paras, and all the ancillary stuff are balls deep in the trough which is being filled by John Q Taxpayer.

We are being ridden roughshod by the vested interests in the Health Service.


Who will call these gimps out and put a bit of reality into the situation.


Dr J.?

He might do:

FlutterinBantam

lizt wrote: »

Wouldn't have a clue to be honest, but even if every member of staff was in every day the health service would still be seriously understaffed.

Well then the methods need to be changed and re-organised, if the above is the case which I seriously doubt..

We all know that money in not available and even if it was it's like throwing it into a black hole.


The vested interests and the stake holders need to be confronted and taken on.

LizT

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Well then the methods need to be changed and re-organised, if the above is the case which I seriously doubt..

We all know that money in not available and even if it was it's like throwing it into a black hole.


The vested interests and the stake holders need to be confronted and taken on.

It is the case. If you saw the waiting lists for services like speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physio etc. then maybe you'd understand.
No new jobs are being created at the minute, positions existing are just being filled (if someone retires or goes on leave) and even this is not happening consistently.
The waiting lists for elective operations like hip replacements and knee replacements are also ridiculously long.
One of the major problems with the HSE is that they employ almost as many non=healthcare staff (for bureaucracy, maintenance etc) who are of course necessary, but not in the numbers the HSE has.

FlutterinBantam

lizt wrote: »

It is the case. If you saw the waiting lists for services like speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physio etc. then maybe you'd understand.
No new jobs are being created at the minute, positions existing are just being filled (if someone retires or goes on leave) and even this is not happening consistently.
The waiting lists for elective operations like hip replacements and knee replacements are also ridiculously long.
One of the major problems with the HSE is that they employ almost as many non=healthcare staff (for bureaucracy, maintenance etc) who are of course necessary, but not in the numbers the HSE has.

Which brings us back to line one in my post.


The HSE is a shambles, nobody wants to give an inch.

That's where the problem is....nobody want's to change.

Doran only wants to increase staff numbers to increase his union subs, and then watch the absentee rate soar.


What is needed is that these overpaid stake holders to be told that the country cannot afford to featherbed them in the manner accustomed.


Either accept that or get out.

th3 s1aught3r

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

"Health insurer VHI has announced a 15% price increase from 1 February - the average family premium will rise by around €331".

How can these bast*ards get away with this?

If they are strapped for cash it hasnt stopped their advertising budget
Their ads are on constantly on TV ,the ones where they show a 'real' customer who has had such a good experience with them.
Which must be costing them a fortune

whiteonion

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

If they are strapped for cash it hasnt stopped their advertising budget
Their ads are on constantly on TV ,the ones where they show a 'real' customer who has had such a good experience with them.
Which must be costing them a fortune

Who needs private health insurance if you're young and healthy?

LizT

whiteonion wrote: »

Who needs private health insurance if you're young and healthy?

Being young and healthy won't stop a car running you over, falling etc.

whiteonion

lizt wrote: »

Being young and healthy won't stop a car running you over, falling etc.

So what? I would not think it's legal to deny people emergency care in Ireland...

LizT

whiteonion wrote: »

So what? I would not think it's legal to deny people emergency care in Ireland...

And what happens if you have to undergo a long rehabilitation process? Who pays for that?

th3 s1aught3r

whiteonion wrote: »

Who needs private health insurance if you're young and healthy?

They are the ones they want as customers
they dont want older people who might actually make a claim

But I would imagine parents with young children need it, and they are going to be ripped off as usual