Private Medical Insurance

Once 26 you are on full adult cover.

First cover from Irish Life can be gotten for €500 and that covers public hospitals only. MRI scan cover can be obtained but not any level of cover for day to day items. Actually €492 with small discount on link below.

https://www.totalhealthcover.ie/health-insurance-quote

This will suit young people who just want to keep cover up and are happy with Public hospitals.

if looking at more mid level you are looking at enchances care with VHI , Plan B with Level, Health Action 1 with ILH but you will be spending c€1150-€1300.

if your in a group scheme there might be a waiting period waiver with Laya for upgrades for specific orthopaedic procedures. Again a good adviser will get that for the company on decent size scheme.

For your mother you could look at the likes of inspire, inspire care (cheaper version of Inspire).

I’d be keeping your father on prosper advanced if he wants to keep his full Ortho cover and good day to day.

Inspire is still a good plan, you could look at Inspire care for premium saving. Its €1,570 versus €1,642 for Inspire. If open to a move of insurer HealthGuide 2 at €1,679 (inclusive of 5% discount available here) attractive with improved hospital cover. HIA comparison via link below

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMDE0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6QsYwpPNAQrNAXrNAUSVBwQFCQaQkZOlQWR1bHQAAcPD

Essential family connect is not good value at all! Inspire Plus much better cover and cheaper for kids at €382. If you look at Irish life I would be looking at Health Plan 16.1 for the kids at €427. HIA link below:

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARpjEyNy40MqYyMzc5LjLCkJABoTCjNjAwAJPNB-kLGMKTfM0BCxaVBwQFCQaQkZOlQ2hpbGQBAcPD

If anyone needs help with Irish Life discount PM me.

This is an area where clarity is difficult to find. My view is that VHI typically would be “the best” insurer for such instance but it’s complex.

Ultimately the other two insurers are commercial entities while VHI has a more member focused approach. In saying that Irish life health massively improved coverage specifically in area of cancer drugs. However until you are in the middle of it and have gone through the approval processes it’s hard to say which is a standout provider as different situations are treated differently by the insurers. Long way of saying no clear cut answer.

If you don’t need cover for orthopaedics you shouldn’t be on Simplicity. You can get much better cover for your outpatient stuff for c€600+ on any of the following plans

•Connect Simplicity

• Optiimum Premium

• Health Guide 3 (Irish Life Health with 5% off via link in other posts)

HIA comparison here:

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMDE0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6QsZwpTNAUVkac0BNZUHBAUJBpCRk6VBZHVsdAABw8M=

The issue with moving from connect choice to inspire if you loose your 75% GP benefit down to 50%. Also your in patient excess would increase to €200.

If you are ok with this and the €1,000 out patient cap inspire is a decent alternative that retains only a 20% ortho shortfall.

all plans must cover maternity it’s a requirement.

Ok some main reason you would be on Momentum is for full orthopaedics coverage or access to Semi Private room in Mater Private for all procedures. Its now €3,218.70, so very exensive.

With your mothers in law's age profile its likely that she will not need orthopaedics with risk related to such procedures. So I think having this is not a requirement likely. If it is you would be looking at Prosper advanced (€2,564 from 1st of January).

If you wanted to stay with Laya and save a packet I would be looking at Connect Simplicity for €1,800. It has Private room coverage with a 20% shortfall for ortho. But for a 90 year old should be as much cover as they potentially need (once comfortable with only coverage for specialised items like cardiac in mater Private & Blackrock clinic).

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMDE0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6QsawpPNAThpzQE6lQcEBQkGkJGTpUFkdWx0AAHDww==