Cancel Health Cover?

2011abc

Hi all,maybe someone could advise me please .We're paying nearly 150 euro a month VHI for my mother(shes not in great shape in general) who has multiple medical issues including Diabetes .She has just qualified for a medical card having turned 65/66.Im told that the VHI renewal will be perhaps almost 50 euro a month more for the same cover and we were hoping to downgrade and save a little every month anyway .My mother says cancel the entire policy but that seems like a very bad idea to me as she would be loaded massively Id presume if she tried to reapply -and there are probationary periods to be passed before cover would apply for many conditions right?
She seems to think having got a couple of free filings on her card that she has no need for VHI -she thinks diabetics get priority treatment in hospitals -Im just conscious of all the horror stories about waiting on trollies or at home for procedures ...Is it like car insurance that if you change company youll probably get an introductory discount?

eyescreamcone

2011abc wrote: »

Hi all,maybe someone could advise me please .We're paying nearly 150 euro a month VHI for my mother(shes not in great shape in general) who has multiple medical issues including Diabetes .She has just qualified for a medical card having turned 65/66.Im told that the VHI renewal will be perhaps almost 50 euro a month more for the same cover and we were hoping to downgrade and save a little every month anyway .My mother says cancel the entire policy but that seems like a very bad idea to me as she would be loaded massively Id presume if she tried to reapply -and there are probationary periods to be passed before cover would apply for many conditions right?
She seems to think having got a couple of free filings on her card that she has no need for VHI -she thinks diabetics get priority treatment in hospitals -Im just conscious of all the horror stories about waiting on trollies or at home for procedures ...Is it like car insurance that if you change company youll probably get an introductory discount?

You say your mother has medical problems. Why would you cut your medical insurance so???
Look after your mother
Sell your tv, car, virginity, anything, but do not drop your mothers health insurance when she might need it most!
By all means shop around though!

Hal Emmerich

Insurance is good for jumping ques to see Consultants, get an MRI, getting the Camera down, things like that.

She has Diabetes (there's alot to keep on top with this, Eyes, Feet, Vascular) and is mid 60s so I'd be inclined to keep it

If you need to go into Hospital through A&E, your're the same as everyone else either way. You may get private room maybe.

HIA site, to shop around.

Hal Emmerich

eyescreamcone wrote: »

You say your mother has medical problems. Why would you cut your medical insurance so???
Look after your mother
Sell your tv, car, virginity, anything, but do not drop your mothers health insurance when she might need it most!
By all means shop around though!

LOL:D

Condo131

2011abc wrote: »

............she would be loaded massively Id presume if she tried to reapply -and there are probationary periods to be passed before cover would apply for many conditions right?

Yes, for new policies, with all insurers, there are waiting periods for preexisting conditions and they may not cover some conditions (like Cancer) at all.

Yes, the medical card will cover most situations, but very often, there are long waiting periods. As other posters have pointed out, private health insurance very often allows you to bypass all of that.

In the end of the day, money is money (provided you have it of course )but your health is your wealth, so anything (like medical insurance) that protects it is not to be discarded lightly.

Edit: apologies, don't know how the smilie, on the header, snuck in.

Delancey

OP - it's young people who may perhaps need to consider ditching their VHI for a few years at least , someone in their 60's in failing health should keep it at all costs - when your mother has to wait 3 or 4 months for an appointment as a public patient when as a private patient she could have got it in 2 or 3 weeks you would bitterly regret it.

Hal Emmerich

Delancey wrote: »

OP - it's young people who may perhaps need to consider ditching their VHI for a few years at least , someone in their 60's in failing health should keep it at all costs - when your mother has to wait 5+ years for an appointment as a public patient when as a private patient she could have got it in 2 or 3 weeks you would bitterly regret it.

Fixed your post.

That's what it is now.

Condo131

Delancey wrote: »

OP - it's young people who may perhaps need to consider ditching their VHI for a few years at least , someone in their 60's in failing health should keep it at all costs - when your mother has to wait 5+ years for an appointment as a public patient when as a private patient she could have got it in 2 or 3 weeks you would bitterly regret it.

I know - and agree - what you're saying wrt the OP's mothers case, however, even young people get serious illnesses.

It is unfortunate that, in Ireland, you really do need private health insurance if you are seriously ill. It is a cost that many may decide to dispense with, but it is a gamble - if it turns out that you don't need it, you've saved a small fortune. Otoh, if you haven't got insurance and you develop a serious condition, you are at the mercy of the public health system.

This is what the VHI says about new policies, or those that have lapsed for 13 weeks or more: VHI - Preexisting conditions

okiss

I know that your mother now has a medical card but don't let her cancel her medical insurance due to her age and her medical problems.
I would look up the hia.ie website and see what exact cover your mother has under her present insurance.

I use to work in the health area and I looked up the hia.ie website for you. I would look at the following plan Company Care Premium No Excess from Quinn Healthcare due to full cover for a private room in a private hospital, full cover for cardiac along full cover for day case in both private and high tech hospitals.
This plan also also you to claim back 75% of consultant visits if you go private.

There are some shortfall amounts with this plan in the high tech hospitals but the full cost of these will only be covered with the highest health insurance plans.

The cost of this cover is €1250 a year. I hope this of help to you.

Chiparus

If she needs a hip replacement she could wait years on the public system. It is a terrible reflection of our health system that you need health insurance for fear of the public system