Private Medical Insurance

ruddy1987 · 12-01-2026 06:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124137774#Comment_124137774

This one is tricky. It might even make sense to split your cover, have you any kids under 3? If so it might make sense to put you or your wife (who ever more likely to need cover) on a plan like plan B or something similar and any child under 3 would be free.

irish Life have a great deal on a kids plans at the minute with nurture plus for €150. You could look to go on First cover with one adult and put a child/ 2 children on nurture plus.

If one of your kids under 3 you could get Plan b for about €1,000 for an adult, and potentially a free child.

Then could look at First cover with Irish Life for under €500 with links in previous post and add in Nurture plus for one/2 kids at €150 each.

There are a million ways to look at this but thats just one option. where one person increases cover.

ruddy1987 · 12-01-2026 06:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124136858#Comment_124136858

For an Irish Visa? I believe most insurers require one adult to be on a policy for a child as they are a minor.

There are child plans from c€150.

ruddy1987 · 12-01-2026 06:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124135872#Comment_124135872

You are at a tricky price point. However given what you have outlined there is a plan range that will suit you very well i think. Its with Irish Life Health:

Health Action 1 - €1,290- Low price point with coverage for High Tech hospitals for cardiac subject to €350 excess per stay. Also has some outpatient coverage. You can increase to Health Action 2,3,4,5 if you want to improve cover and plans go from €1,290 to €1,940. So a really good new plan range and i think something in here likely suits you. All plans have excess per stay and you can choose what cover you want right up to a private room (on Health Action 4 or Health Action 5). Also cash back for items like fitness wearables and gym memberships. Also excellent screening cover which would be good practice for you to use to monitor health.

You can see a table of cover for Health action 1 here:

https://www.irishlifehealth.ie/mediafiles/pdfs/tables-of-cover/HealthAction_1.pdf

Vinnieb92 · 12-01-2026 08:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124141592#Comment_124141592

I see the outpatient limit for health action 2/3 is better. But aside from that the cover in Pro Plus looks seems better across the board vs these plans. What am I missing?

ruddy1987 · 12-01-2026 09:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124141896#Comment_124141896

I’d be looking at health action 4 probably as better comparison. What I don’t like about pro plus is the relatively poor outpatient cover for items like consultants if people have many of visits… capping at 3 is poor.

It’s actually very well priced for people with just a few visits to outpatient items. Hospital coverage is good overall a flag would be nightly excess at semi private in Blackrock and mater for fixed price procedures. Paying €200 per night for a semi private room will really add up against full covered with a per stay excess on most plans.

health action 4 has good cash back like €75 for sports clubs and stuff like that.

It’s not a bad plan pro plus at all… specially if you want really good coverage in standard private hospitals.

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMTI0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6gEMwpPNAZvNAUTNAYeVBwQFCQaQkZOlQWR1bHQAAcPD

wilsixon · 13-01-2026 12:38AM

Yes.

Thanks

Vinnieb92 · 13-01-2026 02:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124142135#Comment_124142135

Thank you. Health action 4 looks much closer. It's 50% cover for the 2 high tech though, would that really work out better than the 200 nightly excess in my current plan? Id have assumed most procedures in those two hospitals would run into the thousands. And a semi private room is 800 a night there, so 50% cover is equivalent to a 400 a night excess. Plus paying 50% for the procedure itself.

Main issue seems to be consultants + outpatient limit but I suppose there has to be concessions somewhere at that price

getoffthepot · 13-01-2026 03:14PM

Hi Ruddy,

Appreciate if you could review for me please.

We are a married couple 65yo (M) & my spouse (F) is 69yo (70 in August)

We have Simply connect plus from Laya for quite a few years now.

I have no current medical conditions although I have had colonoscopies and Optic lens replacement (Cataract) in the last few years.

My wife has also had Optic lens replacement in the past year also. She has regular cardiac consultations and has had surgery in the past. Also has a bad back so gets pain relief procedures annually

We both have a free doctor from past employment.

Our policy will be due in the next couple of months.

Should we change or stay with the current plan?

ruddy1987 · 13-01-2026 10:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143792#Comment_124143792

It has private room coverage for the most common items, cardiac and fixed price procedures with just a flat excess, this is much better than nightly excess. The other item to highlight is that Blackrock only have private rooms so that could be a big big shortfall if only covered for semi private room. So could be much much more than €200 a night! It’s just something to be aware of for example your fixed price coverage for cardiac might not be the case in a private room in Blackrock!

ruddy1987 · 13-01-2026 10:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143878#Comment_124143878

For sure you should look to change, plan is gone very expensive for benefits offered. Big question is do you both need full Orthopaedic coverage ?

If so you should look to change to prosper advanced which would be a much better plan for a similar premium. If you don’t need the full Ortho you could move to Inspire plus which is the same with 80% Ortho cover.

When is your renewal? Laya allow you to change plan mid year so you could change before your renewal potentially if you wanted to? But it might make sense to wait until the renewal as prices have increased.

randomnumber1 · 13-01-2026 11:31PM

Hi Ruddy,

Thanks for all the help you’ve posted. I’d appreciate some guidance on my situation.

We are a couple mid 30s with a 2 y/o and a newborn. Currently on PMI 52 10 with VHI (€3500 approx) pretty happy with the cover but would switch if there is something similar for less cost?

Thanks

ruddy1987 · 14-01-2026 07:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145471#Comment_124145471

that’s a well priced plan with VHI. Items just to flag are 40% shortfall on ortho and 90% coverage for fixed price procedures, given your age likely not an issue. If you wanted to have FPP 100% covered and increase your outpatient claims allowance to €4,000 from €1,000 and reduce your orthopaedic shortfall I’d be looking to healthguide 2 with discount €1621.

But if happy with fiber and VHI stay where you are.

4head · 14-01-2026 12:42PM

Hi Ruddy, Great post and thank you for information to date.

Myself and my wife are currently on Laya Precision 600 connect, I'm approaching 60 and shes a bit younger. I have had some issues over the years with bladder and lungs. All good now and healthy but I do have regular scans and consultant visits (approx 2 PA). Wife is healthy and we are happy with cover of existing plan, however, its gone up €400.

My lung issues were referred to Galway Bon Secours consultant and Galway clinic for scans. Not ideal to have to travel but having the access is reassuring. My bladder issues are looked after in Kingsbridge Sligo with a €175 excess on procedures (cystoscopy ) bi annually. Paid the consultant directly also for consults.

Renewal is the 1st February.

2 healthy young adults on VHI Enhanced care 350. The 22yo premium is €708 and the 19 yo premium is €522.

Would you see alternative plans we should be looking at? Both for ourselves and or the young adults?

ruddy1987 · 14-01-2026 06:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124141544#Comment_124141544

Just to follow up on this one and confirm VHI will offer coverage to kids on a standalone basis. EnhancedCare 350 is €151.35 if looking for a basic plan.

ruddy1987 · 16-01-2026 11:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124146390#Comment_124146390

Lots of options here, this plan is not great value and hospital excess's are increasing and very high.

If looking at staying with Laya id be looking at Signify Care, cheaper and lower excess's and better day to day. Loads of options with other providers, have a look at the link below:

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMTI0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6gEQwpXMoM0BbM0BV80BSM0BWJUHBAUJBpCRk6VBZHVsdAABw8M%3D

VHI are best for young adults, if happy with cover on current plan I wouldnt be seeing a need to change.

mrjohndaaveylynch · 16-01-2026 02:26PM

An elderly relative has VHI "Premium Care" costing over €5k. They do want to ensure full orthopaedic , are there any viable alternatives with VHI? I see Premium Care select, saving about €400 for higher excesses.

ruddy1987 · 16-01-2026 02:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124152516#Comment_124152516

if they would move to Laya prosper advanced would save them a fortune.

if staying with VHI I’d go to advanced care extra day to say select at c€3,450. Main difference is it has full Ortho but hasn’t full cover for all procedures in mater and blackrock. It has cover for fixed price and cardiac.

4head · 16-01-2026 03:04PM

Thanks Ruddy, much appreciated.

Paulzx · 16-01-2026 03:42PM

Hi Ruddy

Looking for comparisons for an upcoming renewal. 2 adults in their early 50's, a child age 15 and a young adult age 20 all on Enhanced Care 350 with vhi. All have long term health cover so no wait periods etc.

Thanks

ruddy1987 · 16-01-2026 04:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124152844#Comment_124152844

Not a bad plan in terms of price and benefits. Unless you are looking to change your benefits i would be telling you to stay as you are.

Jebus111 · 16-01-2026 10:43PM

Hi Ruddy,

i am currently on Simply Connect with Laya. Have been for the last number of years but has gone up so much. I need Ortho and access to the Mater Private on my policy. Is there any better policy you could recommend?

Thank you!

ruddy1987 · 16-01-2026 10:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124154166#Comment_124154166

prosper advanced is the only real option, slightly more expensive but miles better coverage.

Stillnotworking · 17-01-2026 12:08AM

Hi Ruddy1987,

I’m on Principle with Laya, I use a lot of the day to day benefits. What are the most comparable plans please. VHI seems way more expensive for similar offerings.
Thanks.

ruddy1987 · 17-01-2026 09:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124154480#Comment_124154480

principe was an excellent plan but any renewals from January have far inferior hospital coverage with a 40% shortfall now on ortho and €250 day case excess in Blackrock and mater. Out patient cover is still good but I would have concerns on the in patient side.
Have a look at prosper care as an alternative.

VHI are not good in the private room plan space as almost all their plans have a nightly excess. ILH health guide 3 with 5% discount (see previous post with link) be the best alternative if moving away from Laya. But likely staying with Laya on prosper care if ok with outpatient cover on this (note €1,000 cap versus €1,500 on principal and €4,000 on HG3)

https://www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/results/3AARozQ5OaUxMTI0OcKQkAGhMKM2MDAAk80H6gERwpPNATfNARXNAUWVBwQFCQaQkZOlQWR1bHQAAcPD

Stillnotworking · 17-01-2026 12:10PM

much appreciated ruddy1987. Bit of Sat afternoon research for me to do. Thanks again.

Paulzx · 17-01-2026 12:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124153088#Comment_124153088

Thanks Ruddy.

Is upping cover in your 50's a good idea in order to provide better cover as you age and have the waiting periods served while hopefully still healthy?

ruddy1987 · 17-01-2026 01:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124155160#Comment_124155160

with health insurance you always need to be looking two years ahead so you can serve your upgrade waiting prior (eg if you wanted full cover for ortho). Looking more than two years probably just over paying.

bungaro79 · 18-01-2026 12:06AM

Hi Ruddy

fair play for all the advice. Even looking at the hia website, its great to get pointers from you.

My family (me and the missus in our mid 40s, two girls ages 9 and 11) are covered by my wife's company (Laya ConnectChoice) and its been a great policy in fairness. Unfortunately they're closing her office so we'll be on the hunt for a new policy. We've no long term conditions or anything thankfully and things like maternity and fertility cover is no longer needed. Think with a 10% corporate discount, its coming in at just over 4k. Realistically its mostly the day to day cover we use and there is great money back with doctors visits. Things like the online doctor is great too.

Without downgrading too much, what would you think are our best options going forward?

Thanks

getoffthepot · 18-01-2026 07:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145246#Comment_124145246

Had a look at that and changed to prosper advanced yesterday. Renewal is in april.

thanks for your help Ruddy😁

JorgeL · 18-01-2026 09:45PM

ahí Everyone,

I work abroad (on a boat) and get a very good cover I can use worldwide.

However, that’s not going to count for when I move home. So I was wondering would it be worth taking out a policy, even one with the least coverage for when I move home for good ? And if so. What kind of plan would this be?

Or should I just wait until I move home. I’m not exactly sure when, but it’ll be a few more years.

I’m 36 now so no spring chicken nd don’t want to be screwed and insurers not willing to take me on or charging me and arm an a leg for a policy as I took one out too late.

I’d appreciate any input or guidance.
Thanks

Private Medical Insurance

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