Private Medical Insurance

ruddy1987 · 24-12-2025 07:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124092822#Comment_124092822

Bad value plan now. If staying with VHI you are looking at PMI 24 10 or PMI 48 10.

If looking at Laya I’d look at prosper care (€1,000 day to day max so if lots of day to day might not suit).

Irish Life health Healthguide 3 is good value with discount and gas €4,000 day to day cover and lower in patient excess than Laya.

Good news here as lots of options and lots of opportunities to save money.

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARpzEzMDQuODinMjUxNTAuNMKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6QwYwpU0zQEIzQEOzQFFzQE3lQcEBQkGkJOTpUFkdWx0AAKTpUNoaWxkBAGTpUNoaWxkBAHDww==

Macy0161 · 24-12-2025 11:12AM

Currently on VHI FirstCare 500 Day to Day (2 Adults, 1 Young Adult (18), and 1 Child (17)) - gone through the HIA and it's helpfully suggested the same plan! I think I preferred it when it gave tables of near same cost! Would pay a bit more for better consultant cover. On a group scheme with VHI, so that's really my preference.

MickH503 · 24-12-2025 12:48PM

Hi Ruddy1987, Is VHI Company Plan Plus 1.3 still good value at €1766? The Company Plan Plus 1 has been around a long time! And unfortunately I am now paying for it myself 🙂 Thanks and Happy Christmas

ruddy1987 · 24-12-2025 03:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124093265#Comment_124093265

still fairly well priced for benefit. Main thing about CPPL1.3 is it only covers 90% of certain gifted procedures in certain private hospitals.
company plan plus 1 doesn’t have this and has a slightly lower excess. If wanting to stay with VHI not many alternatives.

Health guide 2 stacks up really well against these plans and with the discount it’s cheaper for better cover (100% cover for those procedures in private hospitals).

Quitelife · 24-12-2025 03:58PM

Great thread Ruddy

Myself and my wife both mid 50s long standing Vhi customers through habit , in good health . We have PMI 39 14 costing 1858 each next year … is this a good plan ?

amber2 · 24-12-2025 06:16PM

Ruddy wishing you and yours a Happy Christmas, your input has been invaluable over the past few months, I’m sure everyone will agree. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of what is an absolute head wreck to trawl through and try to compare these various plans.

ruddy1987 · 24-12-2025 09:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124093594#Comment_124093594

that plan is still ok once you do not want to use Kingsbridge Private Hospital Sligo and

Whitfield Clinic Waterford.

If happy with VHI and this isn’t an issue I wouldn’t be rushing to switch plans.

Usual Irish life (Health Guide 2) and Laya (inspire alternatives).

ruddy1987 · 24-12-2025 09:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124093756#Comment_124093756

Thanks amber very kind of you.

if people are around elderly family and friends over the Christmas and the topic comes up i am sure they would be very grateful of any help as they are the ones must vulnerable to over paying due to blind loyalty.

Five Eighth · 24-12-2025 09:24PM

Hi Ruddy,

I've been following your thread and I would like to commend you on the time and expertise you have been kindly giving to all queries. It's very decent of you.

I'm nearly 67 years of age. Male and living alone. I've Momentum with Laya. I've checked out Prosper Advance and can't see a huge difference between these plans except…the latter is nearly €1,000 cheaper.

I want to ensure that I have adequate orthopaedic cover and also, of course, cover in case of heart or other age related health issues.

Any thoughts?

ruddy1987 · 24-12-2025 09:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124094004#Comment_124094004

yes momentum is very poor value now. It’s a simple one prosper advanced is way better and cheaper. You will have private room coverage and full Ortho coverage and improved cash back for day to day items.

Five Eighth · 24-12-2025 09:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124094004#Comment_124094004

Thank you. Have a Happy and Peaceful Christmas.

mrjohndaaveylynch · 25-12-2025 02:10AM

Me and the wife are currently on Connect Simplicity with Laya - going to be about €1,800 a month.

Prosper Care was about €70 cheaper this year than Connect Simplicity (but I didn't know about it, just seeing it now for Dec prices), but I see the January price is making Prosper Care about €50 dearer than Connect Simplicity.

Both plans seem identical except for 75% cover for GP/Consultants - but lower cap - €1,000 on Prosper Care vs €1,500 on Connect Simplicity. So it could work out better on one than the other depending on how many visits you have. More cash back early but you could run out.

Am I missing anything else vis a vis these 2 plans? Thanks for help.

(ps - I noticed that Prosper Care this year gave €250 towards "Laya Clinics" etc, but this year they've changed it to a €50 excess like the Connect Simplicity. Not sure if that is an upgrade or a downgrade.

ruddy1987 · 25-12-2025 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124094308#Comment_124094308

Connect simply is great value until April/May each year. Generally this plan only increases once per year so depending on when you renew it can be very good value. Laya usually have an increase from 1st of April on most plans and this plan usually 1st of May. Some plans only increase or change annually in January typically.

TabbyLongTails · 25-12-2025 05:05PM

Ruddy is a legend, happy Christmas Ruddy

mrjohndaaveylynch · 25-12-2025 06:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124094744#Comment_124094744

Thanks Ruddy! And compared to Prosper Care do you think there's anything of benefit other than the 75% vs 50%? HAve a great Xmas.

Only · 25-12-2025 07:27PM

Due to renew - OH and I on Inspire - we both need Mater Private Day case cover. 2 Kids were on BoGO last year but plans have changed - one 17.5yo one 13.

Any suggestions for savings Ruddy please??

ruddy1987 · 25-12-2025 08:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124094923#Comment_124094923

prosper care is great value it has the higher GP Consultant benefit but lower cap of max €1,000 versus €1,500. Also prosper care has slightly lower excess. Cover for stuff like counselling is better on CS. So it depends on your personal needs, in short both plans are good value.

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMTI0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6QwZwpLNATdplQcEBQkGkJGTpUFkdWx0AAHDww==

ruddy1987 · 25-12-2025 08:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124094959#Comment_124094959

If staying with Laya put first child on inspire plus and second on free plan flex 125 explore. If staying with Laya might be worth considering Simply health plus.

If open to a move health guide 2 has a lower in patient excess €150 versus €225 in Mater Private. Also with discount in link it’s cheaper than inspire. You could then look to add the kids to the benefit plan which is about €200 each or nurture plus for €150 each.

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMTI0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6QwZwpTNAQrNAUTM3WyVBwQFCQaQkZOlQWR1bHQAAcPD

Dogsdodogsstuff · 25-12-2025 09:29PM

Hi Ruddy,

fair play for all the help you have given in here.

I meant to ask you sooner but didn’t want to bother. Now is close to 1st Jan I presume it’s too late for me to change plans.

I’m Laya total health complete. Can’t remember why I chose it (price has jumped up alot) but was using it alot (for consultants , scans and physio and GP). I’ve probably done ok relative to its high cost but you get a bit worried moving plans.

I was looking on HIA comparisons and sort of got a bit flustered. Guess you can’t give much advice on it as it’s up to me to figure it out, prob end up another year just in case.

ruddy1987 · 25-12-2025 09:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124095049#Comment_124095049

Loads of time for a change, you have until the 14th of the month to make a change.

This plan is good cover but way way overpriced! A few alternatives here that are way cheaper and similar/better cover with Laya for you to have a look.

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMTI0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6QwZwpRizQE3zQE1bpUHBAUJBpCRk6VBZHVsdAABw8M%3D

Dogsdodogsstuff · 25-12-2025 10:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124095065#Comment_124095065

Unbelievable advice , I’ve saved nearly a grand a year and it mostly looks better than my current! Thank you so much!

pm. · 26-12-2025 01:17AM

Hi Ruddy

Quick question I’ve always wondered about.

Why does every health insurance plan include maternity cover (pre and post natal) as standard? As a man, it’s not something I’ll ever use, yet it’s on every plan and presumably part of the cost.

I get the sense it’s a legal requirement, but I don’t really understand why it has to be mandatory for everyone rather than optional. Not having a go at maternity cover at all just trying to understand the logic behind it.

And Ruddy fair play. I’ve read loads of your posts and the info you give (and the time you put into explaining it) is genuinely invaluable. I’d happily put my business your way when my renewal comes up.

ruddy1987 · 26-12-2025 08:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124095244#Comment_124095244

This is a common query, Under the Health Insurance Acts and regulations set by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA), insurers must include maternity benefits as part of the minimum level of hospital cover. They are not allowed to sell a policy that excludes it.

For this reason every plan on the market has some level of maternity cover.

MallowMan17 · 26-12-2025 11:06AM

Hi Ruddy, Better Select ILH still seems like a good value with 75% costs back for a GP and Consultant costs? Don't need Dublin hospitals, only Munster private hospitals. Any other plan from any insurer that gives 75% back on everyday expenses covering Munster private hospitals with similar excess as Better Select? Thanks!

mad m · 26-12-2025 12:11PM

I had the VHI plan B back in the day, which I carried on from my mother as she had me on it. I never got to look at buying into another plan. My Son has a health plan from work in UK. My daughter works for HSE so assume she is covered. My wife and I are in our mid 50's now so wondering whether to join a plan now. Obviously will be loaded now on premiums any advice is appreciate

eastie17 · 26-12-2025 12:22PM

completely off topic comment but looking at the ages of parents and ages of their kids listed here people are having their families a lot later.
Will have a big impact down the road with people needing to work longer, pensions etc.

Only · 26-12-2025 02:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124095008#Comment_124095008

Thanks a MILLION!!! I always use the HIa comparisson but theyve changed the website and I cant get my head around it … going to look at your suggestions now.

ruddy1987 · 26-12-2025 04:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124095461#Comment_124095461

better select sounds perfect for you, it’s going up on the 1st of January so if you have a renewal take out the policy effective the 31st of December to avoid the premium increase.

If you where looking at Laya would be looking at something like prosper care it’s 75% back but has an upper cap of €1,000 to be aware of.

TabbyLongTails · 26-12-2025 06:17PM

potentially stupid question, but if someone has health insurance for let’s say 1 year and 1 month, should they renew now to make sure they lock in the price before the increases?

ruddy1987 · 26-12-2025 06:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124096112#Comment_124096112

At renewal you lock in the rate for the year. So you are not hit with the price increase until the next renewal (unless with Irish life or Laya where they allow you change plan mid year, if you change plan mid year you pay the rate for that plan pro rata from when you switch)

Private Medical Insurance

Comments

I'm nearly 67 years of age. Male and living alone. I've Momentum with Laya. I've checked out Prosper Advance and can't see a huge difference between these plans except…the latter is nearly €1,000 cheaper.