Do you have health insurance?

snubbleste

Watching politicians being asked awkward questions - why do you have health insurance if our public system is so good? :cool:
It is estimated that 46% (~2m) of the population have private health insurance.
Why?
What does it give you over the public health system except possibly quicker access to a consult and fewer patients per room?
Is it value for money?

The Backwards Man

snubbleste wrote: »

Watching politicians being asked awkward questions - why do you have health insurance if our public system is so good? :cool:
It is estimated that 46% (~2m) of the population have private health insurance.
Why?
What does it give you over the public health system except possibly quicker access to a consult and fewer patients per room?
Is it value for money?

It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.

Dravokivich

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.

Some of us can't afford health insurance either.

_Whimsical_

snubbleste wrote: »

Watching politicians being asked awkward questions - why do you have health insurance if our public system is so good? :cool:
It is estimated that 46% (~2m) of the population have private health insurance.
Why?
What does it give you over the public health system except possibly quicker access to a consult and fewer patients per room?
Is it value for money?

I do have it, it's something I scrimp on other things for so I can pay for it,it costs as much as a holiday really and id prefer to without that. My experience has taught me is important as I have been ill. The benefits for me are faster waiting times to see consultants, appointments with consultants at a given time instead of waiting 4 or 5 hours in a public clinic which is horrible at any time but genuinely is hell if you are actually really feeling unwell, access to scans in a matter of days instead of years, money back on consultant and gp fees. It's not great value unless you need it like all insurance but after personal experience I wouldn't be without it.

The Moldy Gowl

My work gives me 40 euro a month to spend on health insurance.
I spend it on spice bags and bags o cans.

kneemos

For those relatively minor but life changing operations you have to wait years for on the public system.
Not to mention routine scans that can have a waiting time of a year or more.

maudgonner

The Moldy Gowl wrote: »

My work gives me 40 euro a month to spend on health insurance.
I spend it on spice bags and bags o cans.

With your username you might want to rethink that :pac:

snubbleste

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.

The healthcare system is taxpayer-subsidised.
If you have no insurance or a medical card:
In-patients are charged €75/night to a max of ten nights a year.
Out-patients don't pay if they are referred by a GP.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/hospital_services/hospital_charges.html

ChippingSodbury

I just noticed that mine was taken (50%) today. VHI two adults, two children €1,600 :mad:

Anything cheaper out there? They make it impossible to compare like with like or anything even resembling like with like.

The Backwards Man

snubbleste wrote: »

The healthcare system is taxpayer-subsidised.
If you have no insurance or a medical card:
In-patients are charged €75/night to a max of ten nights a year.
Out-patients don't pay if they are referred by a GP.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/hospital_services/hospital_charges.html

And who pays the GP? Santa?

jester77

Mandatory here, I've the most basic plan going, costs €500 a month

meeeeh

kneemos wrote: »

For those relatively minor but life changing operations you have to wait years for on the public system.
Not to mention routine scans that can have a waiting time of a year or more.

That. It's speedier access and more options. Unless you want pay crazy money you still can't avoid local A&E but after that you have more options with non essential but life limiting illnesses or injuries.

ChippingSodbury

snubbleste wrote: »

The healthcare system is taxpayer-subsidised.
If you have no insurance or a medical card:
In-patients are charged €75/night to a max of ten nights a year.
Out-patients don't pay if they are referred by a GP.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/hospital_services/hospital_charges.html

Suppose Backwards hurts his back and is told he needs to wait until next year to have op to get it sorted on public system. He then has to employ someone for a whole year to bring in his turf: who's going to pay for that????

The Backwards Man

Dravokivich wrote: »

Some of us can't afford health insurance either.

Some of us can't afford to get sick full stop.

snubbleste

ChippingSodbury wrote: »

Suppose Backwards hurts his back and is told he needs to wait until next year to have op to get it sorted on public system. He then has to employ someone for a whole year to bring in his turf: who's going to pay for that????

He would switch to coal.

AnonoBoy

The Moldy Gowl wrote: »

My work gives me 40 euro a month to spend on health insurance.
I spend it on spice bags and bags o cans.

Thus insuring you'll need insurance later in life.

Playing the long game I see.

Schmarts!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

No waiting on consultants. Straight to a private clinic for any broken bones. Quick access to scans. And should Heart problems , cancer etc hit then private care and access to more expensive treatments.

doc11

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.

A medical card won't give you private care, I don't know how you could bankrupt yourself in the public system either all of it's free bar a 75 euro a day bed charge capped at 700ish. A medical card gives you very little advantage over someone without one, while with insurance.....

Peregrine

No. I don't have a medical card either. I can't afford to be sick.

mordeith

ChippingSodbury wrote: »

I just noticed that mine was taken (50%) today. VHI two adults, two children €1,600 :mad:

Anything cheaper out there? They make it impossible to compare like with like or anything even resembling like with like.

I got two adults and two kids for 1289.
Not the most comprehensive plan obviously.

billyhead

It's something I wouldn't do without. As mentioned in a previous post it gives peice of mind. Just never know when I'll need it.

Jawgap

Yes.

Ok, in the event of an accident you still have to through the ED (unless it's minor enough to go to Swiftcare) - but there's a lot of precautionary stuff on it as well.

I get a free medical / executive screen every 12 months - handy to know in the event of something turning up they'll deal with it promptly!

RobertKK

I got private health insurance last year as I am over 34 given lifetime community rating was being introduced, and I had decided I would like to have health insurance when I am a bit older but didn't like the idea of being constantly penalised if I awaited, then no one knows when they will get sick.
So I took out a policy with €500 excess, to make it cheaper, and it covers what I want covered.

Witchie

Margaret Harsh Rim wrote: »

No waiting on consultants. Straight to a private clinic for any broken bones. Quick access to scans. And should Heart problems , cancer etc hit then private care and access to more expensive treatments.

Really? Private clinic for broken bones?

My mum, a Laya healthcare patient, broke her knee on Sunday. She was brought by ambulance to Cavan hopsital A & E. She was then told she needed to go to Drogheda and as it would take ages for an ambulance we would be better to drive her.

I drove her, where she was left on a trolley in the hallway for the night, got a bed in a short stay public ward at 8am on Monday morning. Got her operation Monday afternoon and discharged yesterday, Tuesday.

No special treatment. Probably will end up paying only a little less than a public patient. She will still have to buy any OT products she needs and will possibly be paying for physio.

Compare to 8 years ago when I, without a medical card and no health insurance broke my ankle at Oxegen.

I was taken to hospital by ambulance, slept on a trolley in the hallway for the night (Sunday), was put in a private room on the Monday. Couldn't have operation until Tuesday as there was too much swelling and still some alcohol in my system, stayed in my lovely private room until Friday when I was discharged.

Had to come back for a day operation 3 months later to remove a pin, then was sent for physio for 6 weeks.

My bill? Approximately €200.

I don't think I will ever buy into the insurance schemes in this country. Sure I have had to wait for non-essential consultations/operations over time but I have found so far that the system works quite well without me paying big money.

Beersmith

Jawgap wrote: »

Yes.

Ok, in the event of an accident you still have to through the ED (unless it's minor enough to go to Swiftcare) - but there's a lot of precautionary stuff on it as well.

I get a free medical / executive screen every 12 months - handy to know in the event of something turning up they'll deal with it promptly!

You can still get private screens etc out of your own pocket and it won't be anywhere near the price of health insurance

The Backwards Man

doc11 wrote: »

A medical card won't give you private care, I don't know how you could bankrupt yourself in the public system either all of it's free bar a 75 euro a day bed charge capped at 700ish. A medical card gives you very little advantage over someone without one, while with insurance.....

It's not the spending that bankrupts a self employed person, it's the lack of earning.

kneemos

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It's not the spending that bankrupts a self employed person, it's the lack of earning.

And the gamblin and women.And drinking on a Tuesday night.

snubbleste

Witchie wrote: »

...I don't think I will ever buy into the insurance schemes in this country. Sure I have had to wait for non-essential consultations/operations over time but I have found so far that the system works quite well without me paying big money.

I agree.
I don't believe health insurance gives you value for money given that there is an alternative.

The Backwards Man

kneemos wrote: »

And the gamblin and women.And drinking on a Tuesday night.

They're all tax deductible

Mister Vain

No its definitely not value for money considering it doesn't really cover you for everything. I had it before, ended up having to pay for the ambulance to transfer me from one hospital to another.

Miaireland

I have it and to be honest at the moment it takes a quite a large bite out of my weekly wage. To be honest the reason I pay for it is due to the waiting lists. I know people who are in agony waiting for hip and knee replacements. I have had to use my Insurance once but I would have been waiting at least 18 months if I didn't go Private. I had to wait a month going Private (and I couldn't make two earlier dates due to exams). I do cut other things out to make up for the cost. I rarely go out. Holidays are rare etc. Given the current state of the health service here at the moment I feel I have to buy health insurance. I am lucky I can make that choice.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Witchie wrote: »

Really? Private clinic for broken bones?

My mum, a Laya healthcare patient,.....

Wrong insurer.

Swiftcare clinics and others are great. Mrs S broke her wrist last year. Straight up. In and out in 40 minutes. Physio free too afterwards.

Jawgap

Beersmith wrote: »

You can still get private screens etc out of your own pocket and it won't be anywhere near the price of health insurance

Yes you can - but on my firm's plan anything discovered on a screen that requires treatment is covered, regardless of whether it would have otherwise been covered.

The only thing I object to is paying for 'insurance' for pregnancy!!

Jawgap

Margaret Harsh Rim wrote: »

Wrong insurer.

Swiftcare clinics and others are great. Mrs S broke her wrist last year. Straight up. In and out in 40 minutes. Physio free too afterwards.

Needed stitches following a bike crash a few weeks ago - in, X-rayed, wound cleaned and stitched and I was on my way within 45 minutes - didn't even get to open the book I brought with me to read while I waited, and they apologised for the delay!

keith16

Yes, it's compulsory here in Switzerland. Everyone pays, and the result is a first class health care system.

seamus

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.

This isn't the US, having no health insurance won't bankrupt you.

You might die though sitting on a waiting list.

Yes, I have health insurance and will continue to do so. My Dad's advice to me after my daughter was born was to always have health insurance. Always pay your mortgage and your VHI and then after that you can figure the rest out.

Our sh1tty health system isn't a new phenomenon. It's always been sh1t, since the state was founded.

dashdoll

I don't have it as I can't afford it and it worries me.

Low wages and high Dublin rent along with a college loan mean it's something I simply can't afford.

222233

snubbleste wrote: »

Why?
What does it give you over the public health system except possibly quicker access to a consult and fewer patients per room?
Is it value for money?

Take an example of someone I know who initially went to a Public hospital a few weeks ago with very serious issue, sent home - collected by ambulance again within 24 hours of being sent home.

Requests to go to private hospital issue picked up straight away that was missed in public hospital = life saved.

You have access to fantastic consultants, choice of hospitals, private rooms, MAU's, Clinics for X-rays and MRI's within 24 hours, I wouldn't go without it- it's essential.

byhookorbycrook

snubbleste wrote: »

I agree.
I don't believe health insurance gives you value for money given that there is an alternative.

I get a treatment that costs my health insurance €2,500 per month, before tests/MRIs etc. The same treatment is not given in the public hospital nearby and even in those public hospitals that do, the numbers are capped, so one can only access it if someone else comes off it. So , yep, I get value for money!

I wouldn't live in Ireland without the best insurance I could fund.

It says a lot about the Irish system that they can't keep Irish doctors working in it because of the dreadful conditions. If there was less spent on the endless strata of admin and management and more spent on doctors and nurses, everyone would benefit. Especially patients. Instead they just expect existing medics to cover the shortages by working inhumane hours in inhumane conditions.

_Whimsical_

One thing on the health insurance front is that it really pays to shop around, and they don't make shopping around easy. Every year I devote a few weeks to finding the best value, you can't just afford to automatically renew the same one year after year.
This year my plan price jumped by 800 euro!! I absolutely couldn't hope to afford it and managed to find almost exactly the same plan for 800 less with the same company.
So if you have it and you are renewing shop around!

Lady is a tramp

I literally only got health insurance 2 days ago, after a few weeks break, and am planning on checking into St Pats (again) shortly.

My new plan covers way less than my old plan, but it seems there's some weird loophole that means I'm still covered by the terms of my old (excellent) plan for the next two years, rather than my new (very basic) plan. In most cases, this is to cover the insurers arse - that someone doesn't suddenly upgrade and expect great cover. In my case, it works in my favour - I still have the same good cover for the next two years.

It's no fun suffering from every mental health disorder that exists, but jesus, I'm glad to have the cover to get the in-patient help I need. I'd be waiting a long time on the public system for it.

Zaph

I'm currently recovering from a procedure that, once I'm fully recovered, will vastly enhance my quality of life. This is something I've known for a long time would have to be done, but in the meantime I've had other treatments to put off the inevitable for as long as possible. Those other treatments cost about €400 a go, and I've had 3 or 4 a year for probably the last 5 years. I have never had to pay a penny out of my own pocket for them. When it came to the point where my consultant told me that there was no point in continuing them due to diminishing benefits, I was able to schedule the procedure for a time that suited me and my employers. Consequently I had it a couple of months after I could have, but that was my choice. Again I didn't have to pay a penny for this. Contrast that with stories I've heard of people waiting for up to three years to have the same procedure done publicly, purely because it's not a life threatening condition. I shudder to think how bad those next three years would have been if I was in the same position when I consider how painful and life-limiting the last year was for me and it's something that was only going to get worse. And on top of that I'd have had to pay around €500 for the week in hospital as a public patient. As was mentioned above, the two things I'll always pay are my mortgage and my health insurance, everything else can be worked around.

Lady is a tramp

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

I literally only got health insurance 2 days ago, after a few weeks break, and am planning on checking into St Pats (again) shortly.

My new plan covers way less than my old plan, but it seems there's some weird loophole that means I'm still covered by the terms of my old (excellent) plan for the next two years, rather than my new (very basic) plan. In most cases, this is to cover the insurers arse - that someone doesn't suddenly upgrade and expect great cover. In my case, it works in my favour - I still have the same good cover for the next two years.

It's no fun suffering from every mental health disorder that exists, but jesus, I'm glad to have the cover to get the in-patient help I need. I'd be waiting a long time on the public system for it.

That insurance is an investment in yourself. I hope you get well soon.

Lady is a tramp

Candie wrote: »

That insurance is an investment in yourself. I hope you get well soon.

Thanks!

My family have always had VHI (for all nine of us!) My dad, a very healthy eater, active and healthy, non-smoker non-drinker, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a bone cancer) 12 years ago, and given 3-5 years max. He's still alive and well, with no tumours. He has survived prostate cancer and a heart attack since then.

He gets very regular prompt treatment for every health issue that arises, and we reguarly receive VHI statements in the post for several tens of thousands of euro. I mean, he's received every form of treatment possible to keep him alive ... and it's worked, he's not just alive, but well and active.

It's scary to think that, if he didn't have health insurance, he'd probably be dead and buried long ago. Because he's still a very good, loving, active father. My youngest sibling is only doing her junior cert; on the public system, he'd have been dead long before she got near secondary school.

It's just an absolute disgrace that health insurance is such a necessity; that the same care isn't offered for everybody.

Lady is a tramp

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

Thanks!

You're welcome, and I'm delighted your dad is still with you and living life well.

Good luck with your treatment.

afatbollix

Work pays for it for me. Had to use it for the first time this week.

I've had a bad shoulder for 2 years now, the GP thought it was a muscle issue and kept going down that route until she was off on holiday and the guy filling in for her sent me to a surgeon. He took one look at me said he had an idea what it was but best to have a MRI. At this point I brought up I had insurance I had the MRI within a week. Results came back the next day and after meeting with him I needed surgery. He was like come in any Monday for it I only do surgery on a Monday so I was booked in for 3 weeks time due to work.

I arrived to what was like a hotel room there was only 13 beds in the whole hospital. Into surgery at 8:45 out by 10am and amazing staff who checked on me all day. Gave me all the drugs I needed and was home by 7pm.

I would of waited 9 weeks for the MRI through the NHS.

So stress-free and worth every penny. Will be putting my partner on it next year.

JackHeuston

I've got no health insurance and no medical card. I'm young and I live by myself, I don't really see me getting sick so much that I'd need to spend thousands in treatments or in days in a hospital room. If I'll ever get seriously sick I'll move back home to Italy where healthcare's pretty much free for all, I'll have to leave my job here anyway if I'm that serious.

If I get in an accident here that can't save me from some days or weeks in hospital, I'll just pay up what's due. I'd say the risk of this happening is pretty low, but just by saying that, something's probably gonna happen tomorrow....

I'd love if my job would pay for some private healthcare, but it's really not gonna happen.

afatbollix

Emergency cover is free for all.

It is the non serious stuff that you will wait ages for, passed around and then once they find the issue could have to wait 9 months for treatment. That is where health insurance is worth it.

Lady is a tramp

afatbollix wrote: »

Emergency cover is free for all.

It is the non serious stuff that you will wait ages for, passed around and then once they find the issue could have to wait 9 months for treatment. That is where health insurance is worth it.

It's not free though, is it, for emergency treatment?

I think a visit to A&E is usually €100, which not everyone can afford. Then they'll patch you up or drug you up or whatever, and tell you to go see your GP.

9 months for treatment - you'd be doing well, I've heard of stories of several years waiting, especially with small kids in their formative years.

tomwaterford

How much roughly is health insurance per month...as I half taught on getting it before...but never went about it?