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Health insurance

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  • 16-08-2019 6:21pm
    #1
    mirrorwall14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,751 ✭✭✭


    Hey,

    We have very good health insurance with day to day cover for me and my husband (needed and used regularly for health issues with both of us). However we don't need the same level of cover for the children. Is it possible to have children on a different plan to the adults? I didn't think of it in time to ring VHI today. Will buzz them tomorrow anyways, just curious


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    #2
    RentDayBlues
    Registered Users Posts: 2,131 ✭✭✭RentDayBlues


    mirrorwall14 wrote: »
    Hey,

    We have very good health insurance with day to day cover for me and my husband (needed and used regularly for health issues with both of us). However we don't need the same level of cover for the children. Is it possible to have children on a different plan to the adults? I didn't think of it in time to ring VHI today. Will buzz them tomorrow anyways, just curious

    We do - we’re with laya, I’m assuming it’s the same with others


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    #3
    shesty
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,900 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    It is yeah.it's something that is advised to save money, actually.


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    #4
    mirrorwall14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,751 ✭✭✭mirrorwall14


    Great. Should mean that we don't see an increase this year then which would be great with two going into creche!!


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    #5
    Sunrise_Sunset
    Registered Users Posts: 1,211 ✭✭✭Sunrise_Sunset


    Yes, with VHI you can have the children on a different plan.


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    #6
    fits
    Registered Users Posts: 13,299 ✭✭✭✭fits


    You don’t even have to have them with same company. We are with Irish life and the lads are VHI

    Another question though derail alert. Is there any point having health insurance for children? We are going through a lot at present and it doesn’t seem to be of any use at all as everything is public. One of my boys is getting a medical card so I’m wondering whether it’s worth renewing.


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    #7
    Sunrise_Sunset
    Registered Users Posts: 1,211 ✭✭✭Sunrise_Sunset


    fits wrote: »
    Another question though derail alert. Is there any point having health insurance for children? We are going through a lot at present and it doesn’t seem to be of any use at all as everything is public. One of my boys is getting a medical card so I’m wondering whether it’s worth renewing.

    I used to wonder about this too, but then one of the kids started having health problems and I was very glad of the insurance, particularly for the shorter waiting time to see a Consultant and try to get a diagnosis. My older kid isn't free at the GP anymore so it's useful for claiming back for GP visits, and for dental check ups, but not much else but I'm still glad I have it there, after seeing how useful it is for my other child.
    If you are getting a medical card though, it might be time to reconsider.


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    #8
    cyning
    Registered Users Posts: 3,251 ✭✭✭cyning


    My kids have always been on a higher plan than me with the best outpatient reimbursements I could afford, until this year as thankfully we aren’t spending even half as much time in and out of doctors now.

    Health insurance is absolutely worth it for kids. Take a routine cardiology appt: 18 months publicly, 4 weeks privately. Immunology 3 months privately vs 2.5 years publicly. ENT appts a few weeks vs 2 years for things like grommets. Paediatrician access can be same day or months publicly. Ophthalmology 1 week vs 4 months. If it’s very serious then no it’s not necessary but I would not be without it, and we have often sacrificed a lot to pay for it. It’s not right or fair mind you but it is our experience that it is absolutely worth having.


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    #9
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    fits wrote: »
    You don’t even have to have them with same company. We are with Irish life and the lads are VHI

    Another question though derail alert. Is there any point having health insurance for children? We are going through a lot at present and it doesn’t seem to be of any use at all as everything is public. One of my boys is getting a medical card so I’m wondering whether it’s worth renewing.

    Not having them with the same company is a new one on me.
    They were never willing to take kids on their own before.
    I assume you're not availing of a free kids policy ?
    We are with cornamrket and Irish life.
    Admin charge last year for cornmarket but the discount we got covered it and a bit more.


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    #10
    fits
    Registered Users Posts: 13,299 ✭✭✭✭fits


    It’s a half price policy. Kids were only free for first year.

    We are actually waiting on both cardiology and ENT. I never thought to mention to paediatrician that we had insurance.


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    #11
    shesty
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,900 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    We are on a different plan to our kids, although under the same insurance provider.It can be done no bother.For example last time I renewed I wanted a plan that gave me semi-private maternity cover, but my kids don't need that, so they got a different one.

    Mind you, my husband doesn't need that either, but that distinction doesn't seem to be possible, if you want a certain cover level as an adult.


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    #12
    jlm29
    Registered Users Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭jlm29


    fits wrote: »
    You don’t even have to have them with same company. We are with Irish life and the lads are VHI

    Another question though derail alert. Is there any point having health insurance for children? We are going through a lot at present and it doesn’t seem to be of any use at all as everything is public. One of my boys is getting a medical card so I’m wondering whether it’s worth renewing.

    its one of those things that you could maybe cancel and never miss it, but could possibly regret too. I’ve never used it for any of my kids, but a friends daughter was having recurrent tonsillitis for ages. I think publicly she’d have waited a couple of years to have her tonsils out, because it wasn’t urgently. She brought her to see an ent privately and they were out within a week. You could look at paring back your plan to save money, I have no day to day stuff for my kids, but I like to have some access to private services just in case!


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    #13
    fits
    Registered Users Posts: 13,299 ✭✭✭✭fits


    Ok I’ll keep it and mention to paediatrician that we have it next time. It doesn’t cost much at all but I wasn’t sure there was any benefit to having it. Health system here is hard to figure out. I’m still not sure what difference medical card will make.


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    #14
    cyning
    Registered Users Posts: 3,251 ✭✭✭cyning


    Medical card will stop you having to pay for GP and no cost on meds just a dispensing charge think it’s around €2 approx. Other than that no difference really in navigating hospital or accessing services. You also won’t have to pay the hospital in patient charge.


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    #15
    Grab All Association
    Registered Users Posts: 3,917 ✭✭✭Grab All Association


    How it works in this life is you pay your insurance and you’ll most likely be wasting your money for years and years before you’ll ever need it. Stop paying it/not buying it and you’ll get very sick and be dealing with the disaster that is the HSE. One of life’s little ironies.


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    #16
    Sunrise_Sunset
    Registered Users Posts: 1,211 ✭✭✭Sunrise_Sunset


    Grab All Association wrote: »
    How it works in this life is you pay your insurance and you’ll most likely be wasting your money for years and years before you’ll ever need it. Stop paying it/not buying it and you’ll get very sick and be dealing with the disaster that is the HSE. One of life’s little ironies.

    Sure this is it


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