VHI: Is there any point?

Zigomar

I need some advice. I pay €3k a year for VHI B Options for my wife and I and can't see any benefit. My wife was taken to hospital through A&E with an infection, operated on and released a few days later and VHI was of no use at all. Is there any real advantage to having VHI cover in Ireland? I could use the 3K elsewhere. What is the downside if I cancel?

RoboRat

Its like any insurance, useful when you need it and a waste of money when you don't.

To be honest, I would look at your lifestyle - if you are healthy & not engaging in strenuous physical or sporting activity then it might be worth canceling or perhaps going on a lesser policy with more excess.

Personally, I have health insurance as I do Martial Arts and I have had a knee OP 6 years ago and due another early next year. The first was covered completely as I had top insurance but like a lot, I had to cut back and my next one will cost me about €800 in excess. In saying that, it would cost me €5k+ if I didn't have insurance. I went in through A&E and I could have got referred and got it done publicly for nothing without insurance but God knows how long that would have taken. Also I could have gotten it done privately without any cost through my insurance but I wanted a specific surgeon and I have to have a higher policy or pay an excess - anyone who has had a knee OP and is sporty will understand the difference between getting your knee done and getting it done by someone who specialises in sports injuries!

My wife on the other hand doesn't have insurance and when we had out first child we were debating on whether to go private or not and get her insured. We didn't in the end and she got better care as a public patient than his sister did as a private patient - go figure!

So to sum up, the health system once you get into it is great but its the getting into it that is the problem. If you have had health insurance for years and never used it and you are in good health then you may need to look at your plan or whether you think its worth the outlay.

Zigomar

That more or less reflects what I'm thinking. Thanks Robo.. It seems to be the non life threatening events we are insuring against.. and wait times..

dudara

Moved to Banking & Insurance & Pensions

dudara