Do you have health insurance?

Gregor Samsa · 27-01-2021 5:58pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Still not sure how it works, can you just pay a premium to see these guys when you need to instead of having private health insurance?

Yeah, if you want to go private, you can pay yourself. And if it's a one-off or a limited number of times you need to see them, it can work out cheaper to pay yourself than to pay the premium of health insurance.

It can start to add up, though, depending on what's wrong with you. That's where having HI becomes the cheaper option. In the end, like all non-mandatory insurance, it's all about mitigating against the risk of financial cost or loss. It's up to each person to determine the level of risk they face.

John Hutton · 27-01-2021 6:06pm

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

Yeah, if you want to go private, you can pay yourself. And if it's a one-off or a limited number of times you need to see them, it can work out cheaper to pay yourself than to pay the premium of health insurance.

It can start to add up, though, depending on what's wrong with you. That's where having HI becomes the cheaper option. In the end, like all non-mandatory insurance, it's all about mitigating against the risk of financial cost or loss. It's up to each person to determine the level of risk they face.

I would not be without heath insurance.

Health insurance is not to pay for the 200 quid fee to see the consultant. Its to pay for the tens of thousands for the procedure.

With regard to waiting lists, again it is largely to beat the waiting list for the procedure itself, rather than the waiting list to see the consultant (although this is important too).

Not much point paying hundreds to see a consultant for him to refer you back to public where there's a 2 year wait for the procedure. You might also find yourself just being referred back to a public consultant if you consultant of choice does not operate out of the public hospital, "publicly" for the procedure you need. For this reason many consultants will not see you privately unless you have private health insurance.

For those looking to get heath insurance or dealing with a renewal, look at HIA.ie first (govt comparison website) and also give them a ring they are really helpful and aren't salespeople.

John Hutton · 27-01-2021 6:08pm

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Yep. Used to think it was a waste of money, but my parents always insisted we had to have health insurance. And would have always helped us out if we were having tough times and couldn't afford it ourselves.

Just as well ... If you were to have asked me 8 years ago whether I needed cover in case of mental illness, I would've said my mental health was completely fine, and I was unlikely to ever have any major mental health issues, certainly nothing that couldn't be handled by the GP if it did arise.

But then my mental health imploded with the birth of my son 7 years ago. And over the past 7 years, I've had maybe 20 admissions to psychiatric wards. Most were longer term stays (for weeks/months at a time) and, because I have health insurance, I've always been able to get in immediately in a crisis, and was always under the same team and consultant. You simply don't get that continuity of care in the public system, and you certainly don't get taken care of quickly enough when there's a crisis.

2020 was the first year where I had no inpatient admissions. I'm pretty stable these days, with the help of a lot of medication and talk therapy and DBT skills etc. I still see my consultant (the same one) every three months as an outpatient, and she knows me and my care plan inside out.

You can never know for sure it won't happen to you, whether it's a mental health issue or something physical. I'd almost certainly be dead years ago if I didn't have health insurance. Would never be without it now.

Good point about mental health, glad you are doing well now.

There's no way you could have paid for that treatment yourself no matter what you saved, it is likely well over 100k over the years.

You just never know is my motto, like all insurance you hope to never need it!

Snotty · 27-01-2021 6:09pm

Until 2008 i had it and paid for it for the whole family, things got tight and cancelled it. Thankfully started work a few years ago and they pay for it for me and the family, they also provide 50% on everyday expenses, only last week claimed €225 back on root canal work for the wife.

Assuming i could afford it, i wouldn't be without it, one large treatment could mean bankruptcy if going private or risk death to the family member if going public and waiting, things like cancer wait times are huge and the cancer is only growing while waiting. Is that likely to happen, probably not but i'm not willing to take the chance.

27-01-2021 6:13pm

o1s1n wrote: »

I have had two surgeries over the last decade while on private healthcare - both instances I ended up in a public ward because the private ones were all full up.

Towards the end of the second stay they moved me to a semi private ward, but I was over the worst of it at that stage and getting ready to leave the hospital.

Cancelled my health insurance after that. Not worth it at all IMO.

What was it for? For elective stuff in my experience I've been left on a list for 3-4 years then told "oh you're not on the list". With insurance it was see consultant in a week, get surgery within a month (only took that long because of Covid).

KrakityJones · 27-01-2021 6:13pm

I have a very basic plan, sometimes I wonder whether it's any better than just going public. Anyway I was debating ditching it this year to save money and someone pointed out this:

Think of how bad waiting lists are for some procedures on public. Now think about how many procedures were postponed, or how many people didn't want to go to doctors, hospitals etc due to covid. Can you imagine the waiting lists the next few years?

I'll be hanging onto the private insurance.

Antares35 · 27-01-2021 6:15pm

KrakityJones wrote: »

I have a very basic plan, sometimes I wonder whether it's any better than just going public. Anyway I was debating ditching it this year to save money and someone pointed out this:

Think of how bad waiting lists are for some procedures on public. Now think about how many procedures were postponed, or how many people didn't want to go to doctors, hospitals etc due to covid. Can you imagine the waiting lists the next few years?

I'll be hanging onto the private insurance.

That's a good point actually, hadn't thought about the effect of cancellations etc.

27-01-2021 6:23pm

biko wrote: »

Yes, quite expensive but has nice things like private room etc included.
Have had use of it on occasion through the years, nothing major thankfully.

Considering how much it has cost me and how much I have used it I'd say the insurance company still owes me an open heart surgery

You get whatever room is available. I'm a veteran of using Beacon and it's just the luck of the draw what room is available when you need it. Last time I was in a pretty cramped room with two other people, little comfort to it at all. It's been great when I've been in the single bedded room, but that's been entirely the circumstances of my admissions.

jt69er · 27-01-2021 6:35pm

The Mighty Quinn wrote: »

I don't, but trying to rectify that.

I'm mid 30s, can finally afford some cover I think, and there's a child in the house and one on the way that makes it seem to me I'm foolish not to have health cover going forward.

It's bamboozling trying to work out what policy I need, there are a dizzying array of them. Even the HIA comparison tool is confusing to me to use (any suggestions on "best" policy for two adults and two infants I'm all ears!).

totalhealthcover.ie

Smee_Again · 27-01-2021 6:40pm

Antares35 wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what are the benefits of the maternity cover? I've gone public on both and couldn't fault the care, just wondering what extra it provides.

Not a whole lot for a “normal” birth.

We were told to start thinking about IVF due to a low egg count and the VHI contribution would have covered the premiums paid so far.

There were a few other tests covered too.

We’re pregnant now and are going semi private and the total fee is capped with VHI, it wouldn’t be otherwise. (I’d have gone public but then I’m cheap and not the one carrying the baby).

27-01-2021 6:41pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I had to see a specialist consultant in Blackrock a couple of years ago and had no health insurance, I just had to pay 200 quid or something to see him and then he referred me to tests in Beaumont quite soon after that.
Still not sure how it works, can you just pay a premium to see these guys when you need to instead of having private health insurance?

Actually it is true that if you have something very serious and pay up the €2-300 to see someone privately in their rooms, and they think you have something serious and urgent they will refer you speedily to a public hospital for care. I brought a cousin, who was without insurance, to a private doctor to speed up diagnosis, as it turned out she had motor neurone disease. He noticed she had something else which he believed needed more prompt attention and made all the arrangements to have her admitted straight away to a public hospital. He said at the time that the very complex serious stuff really needs to be dealt with in a public hospital hospital. By going the private route initially in this circumstance meant that she saw the top consultant who was able to fast-track the needed care.

It's also worth paying for a private scope, if you don't have insurance, because of cancer is detected at least you can be referred for urgent public care to have the requisite surgery, eg in bowel cancer. The cost of a scope is similar to a nice summer holiday, so many people could actually afford that, and perhaps take a bargain break later instead.

Antares35 · 27-01-2021 6:45pm

Smee_Again wrote: »

Not a whole lot for a “normal” birth.

We were told to start thinking about IVF due to a low egg count and the VHI contribution would have covered the premiums paid so far.

There were a few other tests covered too.

We’re pregnant now and are going semi private and the total fee is capped with VHI, it wouldn’t be otherwise. (I’d have gone public but then I’m cheap and not the one carrying the baby).

Ah, that makes sense. And congratulations. I hope everything goes well

I never felt cheap availing of public maternity care - we pay for it tenfold through our salary deductions :pac: :pac:

Thelonious Monk · 27-01-2021 6:51pm

Deleted User wrote: »

It's also worth paying for a private scope, if you don't have insurance, because of cancer is detected at least you can be referred for urgent public care to have the requisite surgery, eg in bowel cancer. The cost of a scope is similar to a nice summer holiday, so many people could actually afford that, and perhaps take a bargain break later instead.

That's the thing it was to do with bowel cancer and I did have to get a scope, but I was referred pretty quickly. I'm pretty sure I didn't have to pay for it, but I can't remember, it was about 4 years ago.
Got the all clear though it's just because family members have had b-cancer problems.

Earthhorse · 27-01-2021 7:03pm

Yes, I have and always have had.

Last year was the first time I had to really make use of it and it's hard to know if it's worth it for those purposes. I had several GP visits, a rake of tests; blood, urine, ECG, ultrasound and a visit with two consultants. All told my medical expenses came to around €800 of which my insurance covered €300. My premium is around €700.

Luckily in my case it didn't turn out to be anything too serious but I'm a bit disappointed with how little was covered. I think where it would really kick in would be hospital stays or more complex procedures of which I've thankfully had none. But there's such an array of policies out there it's also hard to know what exactly would be covered.

Overall though, I'd rather have it than not, and be thankful for my (generally

) good health.

27-01-2021 7:11pm

Health insurance is one of those things that seems like a waste of money, until you really, really, need it. I've always had it and at the moment my husbands job pays for good insurance for us all, including all dental and full cover for the shorty.

It's a safety net, hopefully we'll never land on it but it's nice to know it's there if we have to.

tscul32 · 27-01-2021 7:45pm

I brought my 15 year old to the Hermitage last week to get an ingrown toenail removed and back the next day for a dressing change. Even private with health insurance it took 6 weeks to get the appointment. I dread to think how long it would have been on a public list. It wasn't getting any better on it's own but also not getting any worse so he'd probably be way down the list. He hardly leaves the house with homeschooling and the pandemic so at least with it sorted I'll be able to drag him out for a walk. And he missed a month of PE before Christmas, not a remotely active kid at the best of times, hate to think what it would be like if he was 6+ months waiting.

We never had it growing up and never needed it, very healthy family. My parents have had a couple of small things in the past few years but they're in their 70s now so get seen quickly enough in the public system. My OH's family always had it and he was adamant we get it. Thankfully his jobs have always provided it, his plus half of mine in a previous job, current one covers us both plus 3 kids. Rarely use it but we're with VHI and live quite close to a swift care clinic so it's good to know there's somewhere handy to go.

Joe Exotic · 27-01-2021 7:47pm

Definatly worth it for me, My Daughter (2 and a half now) needed open heart surgery last year. Would have probably been the same team doing the surgery if we were public via Crumlin hospital.

The main difference is that even after four stays in hospital high dependancy units in her first year for Breathing difficulties it would have been 18 months for her to get the heart scan to diagnose the issue - got it in 3 weeks private.

Once you get the scan and diagnosis your on the path then it really doesnt matter getting that scan was well work the 2 grand a year to me and with 4 month old twins in the house i know if theres an issue then it will be sorted quick.

Unfortunatley our system is terrible nobody should have to get haelth insurance and Public consultants being allowd to work privatley in the public hospitals is a curse in our system. get rid of that and we might not need the insurance!!

LuasSimon · 27-01-2021 8:15pm

If you are prepared to pay for a scan yourself , would you not be the same as someone with health insurance ?
So don’t pay a grand a year but pay a grand on an occasion you need a scan ?

Daragh1980 · 27-01-2021 8:20pm

I have it.
OP - if you take out health insurance, the Left will hate you.

27-01-2021 8:22pm

LuasSimon wrote: »

If you are prepared to pay for a scan yourself , would you not be the same as someone with health insurance ?
So don’t pay a grand a year but pay a grand on an occasion you need a scan ?

But if the scan says you need surgery and the public waiting list is years - that's when you'll appreciate the difference between forking out the odd time and having full cover.

Antares35 · 27-01-2021 8:34pm

LuasSimon wrote: »

If you are prepared to pay for a scan yourself , would you not be the same as someone with health insurance ?
So don’t pay a grand a year but pay a grand on an occasion you need a scan ?

I think it's that whatever procedure/ surgery etc. could be needed after would be prohibitively expensive. Diagnostic itself isn't. I'm due my second this year, so will probably look to take out a family plan.

I do play roulette when it comes to pet insurance though.

We've many rescues, and too many to insure (plus pet insurers are notorious for trying to weasel out of paying up). So instead of insuring any of them, or picking a favourite and insuring that one, I just put a small amount aside each month and have a cash reserve for when one of them inevitably climbs into the engine to get lacerated by the fan belt or decides to sit in front of oncoming traffic :pac::rolleyes:

FGR · 27-01-2021 8:34pm

I remember one person in my life questioning why anyone needed health insurance as if something is life threatening then it'll be looked after publicly.

Then he got a pain in his hip about a year later. Onto the public list and is still waiting.

My uncle, who has health insurance; got a similar pain two months afterwards and has had both replaced since.

Moral of the story is that if you get a heart attack you'll be treated just as well with or without health insurance but if it's something that won't kill you overnight then you're going to be waiting.

It's not a fair system but for the sake of €45 a month it's well worth it just in case.

Larbre34 · 27-01-2021 8:43pm

LuasSimon wrote: »

If you are prepared to pay for a scan yourself , would you not be the same as someone with health insurance ?
So don’t pay a grand a year but pay a grand on an occasion you need a scan ?

My Uncle recovered from cancer recently, thanks to pioneering immunotherapy.

He had health insurance.

He developed pain and tenderness and his digestive habits changed over time. So, he went to his GP, (60 quid), who referred him to a private consultant (150 quid per visit, 100 of which claimed back from his HI). He was referred for a scan and blood tests two or three days later in a private hospital (50 quid excess cost at point of entry) and was diagnosed.

He was admitted for a small op and then received radiation and chemotherapy over a number of months (no further cost) and after a few months of no symptoms experienced a reoccurance.

Some further conventional treatment was carried out but deemed ineffective and so his consultant applied to his insurer for approval to administer a programme of immunotherapy, which was agreed to.

So, with health insurance, up to the point he started the immunotherapy, he paid about 500 quid out of his own pocket for excellent treatment, some of which he could claim back.

However, it should be noted the immunotherapy he received is not generally available on the public health to people of his age and profile. Want to know how much his programme cost?

€175,000.

Of which he paid just his insurance premium.

Now its up to you folks, but if you value yours and your family's health, I can't see any argument against having a health insurance package and indeed making sacrifices, if necessary, to keep one.

EmmetSpiceland · 27-01-2021 8:50pm

Antares35 wrote: »

I am curious about people paying privately for maternity cover. I think we have one of the best antenatal care systems tbh. I can understand if it's a complicated pregnancy but if it's normal with no red flags, the only benefit seems to be seeing a consultant and having a chance of a private room. I opted for midwife led care in any event because it's better continuity of care and it's a very popular option. Most straightforward births you're out the next day, and a private room is completely pointless because the small hairless monkey keeps you awake anyway

We went private for all of our kids. Obviously, I was behind whatever way my partner wanted to “do it”. She knew who she wanted and we were willing to pay for that.

You get a lot more scans and there’s little, to no, waiting around time. I was always reassured it was worth it whenever we’d be passing the waiting room, down in “steerage”, as we headed for the private clinic.

The recovery times on C-Sections are between 3 or 4 days so having your own room is nearly essential. I’m sure it’s fine “on the wards” but we decided that wasn’t for us.

Eggs For Dinner · 27-01-2021 9:01pm

It's not about getting an appointment with a consultant or having a scan. Of course you can just pay privately when you need them. It's what you can do with the results those enquiries reveal. My most recent jolly worked out at approx €125k and my surgeon said that if I had to go on a public waiting list, it would be too late for him to do anything

Snotty · 27-01-2021 9:04pm

Just to add, very few people take out health insurance to get a private room in a hospital, it's not even a consideration for most people.

RandomViewer · 27-01-2021 9:10pm

Dropped it in 2008, couldn't afford it, have longterm illness (diabetes)now so wouldn't qualify anymore

RandomViewer · 27-01-2021 9:11pm

Snotty wrote: »

Just to add, very few people take out health insurance to get a private room in a hospital, it's not even a consideration for most people.

Will be post Covid,

27-01-2021 9:12pm

Snotty wrote: »

Just to add, very few people take out health insurance to get a private room in a hospital, it's not even a consideration for most people.

For infection control ideally all rooms should be private in all hospitals.

27-01-2021 9:19pm

Candie wrote: »

But if the scan says you need surgery and the public waiting list is years - that's when you'll appreciate the difference between forking out the odd time and having full cover.

In the case posted above, a baby needing vital life-saving heart surgery, it would surely be a national scandal if it depended on having private insurance to have it done in a time-scale to enable to save a child's life. I think if this is going on it really needs to be brought to wider attention. It would be disgraceful that if a child in Ireland these days needs to be on private insurance to have its life saved.

Do you have health insurance?

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