Huge health insurance savings

walshy123

There are huge savings to be had......by ordering "off menu". Apologies if this has been brought up before, but it is certainly new to me.

Was just reading over my partners health insurance renewal. She is with VHI and has the "Nurses/Midwives VHI Group Scheme" plan which is coming in at €799.25 this year after TRS.

A quick comparison here shows that this plan is basically the same as the popular VHI Plan B [I appreciate that some will place more value on a given aspect of each plan]. However Plan B costs €1,200 - a whopping €400 more!

So, what good is this to you if your not a nurse or midwife? Well according the the Consumer Rights Statement included with the renewal documents is the following:

Q. Can an insurer refuse to sell me a particular plan?
A. No. An insurer must sell you the policy you request. Some plans are marketed towards certain groups such as companies or professions but you are entitled to purchase these plans regardless of whether or no you are a member of the group to which it is marketed.

This is just one example of a policy which is not publicly advertised. There may well be better group schemes out there. What schemes do you know of?

holidaygirl

I'm with vhi on plan PMI 01 11, it was on offer at the time for €750. I was on Plan B Options.

loopymum

This is a fantastic website and you can compare plans side by side.
When we were changing plans last year, I used to have a few browser windows open and checking everything off.

We got the free kids last year with vhi and they just sent me a letter saying that offer is still valid this year which is great news as we just had another baby which will be 3 kids free.
I will still shop around though:D But I think it will be hard to beat.

I didn't realise it/ but with the free kids, the adults don't have to be on the one+ plan. Myself and the OH are on the corporate and the kids are on the one+

Mr Keek

watch yourself with some of those corporate plans, very often the trade off is Higher Excessses for lower prices.

yes you are right, a company cannot refuse to sell you a specific plan tht you request, so a lumber jack can be covered under a teachers or nurses plan.

walshy123

holidaygirl wrote: »

I'm with vhi on plan PMI 01 11, it was on offer at the time for €750. I was on Plan B Options.

Whats PMI stand for (if anything?)

holidaygirl

walshy123 wrote: »

Whats PMI stand for (if anything?)

I have no clue I'm afraid. I only saw it on the news feed of the hia website and then had a look a it.

Actually just had a look and they are reducing it on 2nd Sept again, and also increasing the benefits

Vhi change benefits on PMI 01 11 plan 02.09.11
Vhi Healthcare will reduce the premium of PMI 01 11 on 2 September 2011. Adult rates will be reduced from €930 to €775. Child and student rates will be reduced from €330 to €275. The fourth and consecutive children are free.
The Lifestage Screening Programme will also be added to this plan; see Vhi for details.
Vhi will increase the benefit paid for participating private hospitals for specified hip, knee and shoulder joint replacement procedures and specified ophthalmic procedures from 80% of the cost to 100% of the cost, at this time.
These changes will apply to all new and renewing customers from this date.

http://www.hia.ie/latest-news/vhi-change-benefits-on-pmi-01-11-plan-02.09.11.htm

loopymum

holidaygirl wrote: »

I have no clue I'm afraid. I only saw it on the news feed of the hia website and then had a look a it.

Actually just had a look and they are reducing it on 2nd Sept again, and also increasing the benefits

http://www.hia.ie/latest-news/vhi-change-benefits-on-pmi-01-11-plan-02.09.11.htm

Thanks for that, really need to shop around again after having a look on hia again.

The corporate plan has jumped in price from €726 to €852:mad: Feck

muckety

loopymum wrote: »

This is a fantastic website and you can compare plans side by side.
When we were changing plans last year, I used to have a few browser windows open and checking everything off.

We got the free kids last year with vhi and they just sent me a letter saying that offer is still valid this year which is great news as we just had another baby which will be 3 kids free.
I will still shop around though:D But I think it will be hard to beat.

I didn't realise it/ but with the free kids, the adults don't have to be on the one+ plan. Myself and the OH are on the corporate and the kids are on the one+

I'm interested in this - I also had 3 kids free last year but my letter told me that I was getting half price kids this year! Think I will give them a call and find out why I didn't get them free when others did.... thanks for the tip off!

unkel

Got a bill last year that was 30% higher than the previous year with the essentials plus plan with Bupa Quinn. Rang them and switched to the company plan. Ended up paying less instead of more

I had a rough look at the plans, not much of a difference. There is an excess of €220 (normal plan has no excess) and maternity benifts are lower.