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Do you have health insurance?

  • 17-02-2016 08:53PM
    #1
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,119 ✭✭✭✭


    Watching politicians being asked awkward questions - why do you have health insurance if our public system is so good? :cool:
    It is estimated that 46% (~2m) of the population have private health insurance.
    Why?
    What does it give you over the public health system except possibly quicker access to a consult and fewer patients per room?
    Is it value for money?

    Do you have health insurance? 130 votes

    Yes
    0% 0 votes
    No
    100% 130 votes


«134

Comments

  • #2
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    snubbleste wrote: »
    Watching politicians being asked awkward questions - why do you have health insurance if our public system is so good? :cool:
    It is estimated that 46% (~2m) of the population have private health insurance.
    Why?
    What does it give you over the public health system except possibly quicker access to a consult and fewer patients per room?
    Is it value for money?

    It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.


  • #3
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,424 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.

    Some of us can't afford health insurance either.


  • #4
    _Whimsical_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,006 ✭✭✭_Whimsical_


    snubbleste wrote: »
    Watching politicians being asked awkward questions - why do you have health insurance if our public system is so good? :cool:
    It is estimated that 46% (~2m) of the population have private health insurance.
    Why?
    What does it give you over the public health system except possibly quicker access to a consult and fewer patients per room?
    Is it value for money?

    I do have it, it's something I scrimp on other things for so I can pay for it,it costs as much as a holiday really and id prefer to without that. My experience has taught me is important as I have been ill. The benefits for me are faster waiting times to see consultants, appointments with consultants at a given time instead of waiting 4 or 5 hours in a public clinic which is horrible at any time but genuinely is hell if you are actually really feeling unwell, access to scans in a matter of days instead of years, money back on consultant and gp fees. It's not great value unless you need it like all insurance but after personal experience I wouldn't be without it.


  • #5
    The Moldy Gowl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,889 ✭✭✭✭The Moldy Gowl


    My work gives me 40 euro a month to spend on health insurance.
    I spend it on spice bags and bags o cans.


  • #6
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,605 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    For those relatively minor but life changing operations you have to wait years for on the public system.
    Not to mention routine scans that can have a waiting time of a year or more.


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  • #7
    maudgonner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,455 ✭✭✭maudgonner


    The Moldy Gowl wrote: »
    My work gives me 40 euro a month to spend on health insurance.
    I spend it on spice bags and bags o cans.

    With your username you might want to rethink that :pac:


  • #8
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,119 ✭✭✭✭snubbleste


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.
    The healthcare system is taxpayer-subsidised.
    If you have no insurance or a medical card:
    In-patients are charged €75/night to a max of ten nights a year.
    Out-patients don't pay if they are referred by a GP.
    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/hospital_services/hospital_charges.html


  • #9
    ChippingSodbury
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,396 ✭✭✭ChippingSodbury


    I just noticed that mine was taken (50%) today. VHI two adults, two children €1,600 :mad:

    Anything cheaper out there? They make it impossible to compare like with like or anything even resembling like with like.


  • #10
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    snubbleste wrote: »
    The healthcare system is taxpayer-subsidised.
    If you have no insurance or a medical card:
    In-patients are charged €75/night to a max of ten nights a year.
    Out-patients don't pay if they are referred by a GP.
    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/hospital_services/hospital_charges.html
    And who pays the GP? Santa?


  • #11
    jester77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    Mandatory here, I've the most basic plan going, costs €500 a month


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  • #12
    meeeeh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,612 ✭✭✭✭meeeeh


    kneemos wrote: »
    For those relatively minor but life changing operations you have to wait years for on the public system.
    Not to mention routine scans that can have a waiting time of a year or more.

    That. It's speedier access and more options. Unless you want pay crazy money you still can't avoid local A&E but after that you have more options with non essential but life limiting illnesses or injuries.


  • #13
    ChippingSodbury
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,396 ✭✭✭ChippingSodbury


    snubbleste wrote: »
    The healthcare system is taxpayer-subsidised.
    If you have no insurance or a medical card:
    In-patients are charged €75/night to a max of ten nights a year.
    Out-patients don't pay if they are referred by a GP.
    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/hospital_services/hospital_charges.html

    Suppose Backwards hurts his back and is told he needs to wait until next year to have op to get it sorted on public system. He then has to employ someone for a whole year to bring in his turf: who's going to pay for that????


  • #14
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Dravokivich wrote: »
    Some of us can't afford health insurance either.

    Some of us can't afford to get sick full stop. :(


  • #15
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,119 ✭✭✭✭snubbleste


    ChippingSodbury wrote: »
    Suppose Backwards hurts his back and is told he needs to wait until next year to have op to get it sorted on public system. He then has to employ someone for a whole year to bring in his turf: who's going to pay for that????
    He would switch to coal.


  • #16
    AnonoBoy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,559 ✭✭✭✭AnonoBoy


    The Moldy Gowl wrote: »
    My work gives me 40 euro a month to spend on health insurance.
    I spend it on spice bags and bags o cans.

    Thus insuring you'll need insurance later in life.

    Playing the long game I see.

    Schmarts! ;)


  • #17
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    No waiting on consultants. Straight to a private clinic for any broken bones. Quick access to scans. And should Heart problems , cancer etc hit then private care and access to more expensive treatments.


  • #18
    doc11
    Closed Accounts Posts: 532 ✭✭✭doc11


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    It gives me the peace of mind that I'll never be bankrupted if I get sick. Some of us don't have medical cards you know.

    A medical card won't give you private care, I don't know how you could bankrupt yourself in the public system either all of it's free bar a 75 euro a day bed charge capped at 700ish. A medical card gives you very little advantage over someone without one, while with insurance.....


  • #19
    Peregrine
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,424 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    No. I don't have a medical card either. I can't afford to be sick.


  • #20
    mordeith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,125 ✭✭✭mordeith


    ChippingSodbury wrote: »
    I just noticed that mine was taken (50%) today. VHI two adults, two children €1,600 :mad:

    Anything cheaper out there? They make it impossible to compare like with like or anything even resembling like with like.

    I got two adults and two kids for 1289.
    Not the most comprehensive plan obviously.


  • #21
    billyhead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,761 ✭✭✭✭billyhead


    It's something I wouldn't do without. As mentioned in a previous post it gives peice of mind. Just never know when I'll need it.


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  • #22
    Jawgap
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,296 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    Yes.

    Ok, in the event of an accident you still have to through the ED (unless it's minor enough to go to Swiftcare) - but there's a lot of precautionary stuff on it as well.

    I get a free medical / executive screen every 12 months - handy to know in the event of something turning up they'll deal with it promptly!


  • #23
    RobertKK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,782 ✭✭✭✭RobertKK


    I got private health insurance last year as I am over 34 given lifetime community rating was being introduced, and I had decided I would like to have health insurance when I am a bit older but didn't like the idea of being constantly penalised if I awaited, then no one knows when they will get sick.
    So I took out a policy with €500 excess, to make it cheaper, and it covers what I want covered.


  • #24
    Witchie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,597 ✭✭✭Witchie


    Margaret Harsh Rim wrote: »
    No waiting on consultants. Straight to a private clinic for any broken bones. Quick access to scans. And should Heart problems , cancer etc hit then private care and access to more expensive treatments.

    Really? Private clinic for broken bones?

    My mum, a Laya healthcare patient, broke her knee on Sunday. She was brought by ambulance to Cavan hopsital A & E. She was then told she needed to go to Drogheda and as it would take ages for an ambulance we would be better to drive her.

    I drove her, where she was left on a trolley in the hallway for the night, got a bed in a short stay public ward at 8am on Monday morning. Got her operation Monday afternoon and discharged yesterday, Tuesday.

    No special treatment. Probably will end up paying only a little less than a public patient. She will still have to buy any OT products she needs and will possibly be paying for physio.

    Compare to 8 years ago when I, without a medical card and no health insurance broke my ankle at Oxegen.

    I was taken to hospital by ambulance, slept on a trolley in the hallway for the night (Sunday), was put in a private room on the Monday. Couldn't have operation until Tuesday as there was too much swelling and still some alcohol in my system, stayed in my lovely private room until Friday when I was discharged.

    Had to come back for a day operation 3 months later to remove a pin, then was sent for physio for 6 weeks.

    My bill? Approximately €200.

    I don't think I will ever buy into the insurance schemes in this country. Sure I have had to wait for non-essential consultations/operations over time but I have found so far that the system works quite well without me paying big money.


  • #25
    Beersmith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭Beersmith


    Jawgap wrote: »
    Yes.

    Ok, in the event of an accident you still have to through the ED (unless it's minor enough to go to Swiftcare) - but there's a lot of precautionary stuff on it as well.

    I get a free medical / executive screen every 12 months - handy to know in the event of something turning up they'll deal with it promptly!

    You can still get private screens etc out of your own pocket and it won't be anywhere near the price of health insurance


  • #26
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    doc11 wrote: »
    A medical card won't give you private care, I don't know how you could bankrupt yourself in the public system either all of it's free bar a 75 euro a day bed charge capped at 700ish. A medical card gives you very little advantage over someone without one, while with insurance.....

    It's not the spending that bankrupts a self employed person, it's the lack of earning.


  • #27
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,605 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    It's not the spending that bankrupts a self employed person, it's the lack of earning.


    And the gamblin and women.And drinking on a Tuesday night.


  • #28
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,119 ✭✭✭✭snubbleste


    Witchie wrote: »
    ...I don't think I will ever buy into the insurance schemes in this country. Sure I have had to wait for non-essential consultations/operations over time but I have found so far that the system works quite well without me paying big money.
    I agree.
    I don't believe health insurance gives you value for money given that there is an alternative.


  • #29
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    kneemos wrote: »
    And the gamblin and women.And drinking on a Tuesday night.

    They're all tax deductible :)


  • #30
    Mister Vain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,402 ✭✭✭Mister Vain


    No its definitely not value for money considering it doesn't really cover you for everything. I had it before, ended up having to pay for the ambulance to transfer me from one hospital to another.


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  • #31
    Miaireland
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,066 ✭✭✭Miaireland


    I have it and to be honest at the moment it takes a quite a large bite out of my weekly wage. To be honest the reason I pay for it is due to the waiting lists. I know people who are in agony waiting for hip and knee replacements. I have had to use my Insurance once but I would have been waiting at least 18 months if I didn't go Private. I had to wait a month going Private (and I couldn't make two earlier dates due to exams). I do cut other things out to make up for the cost. I rarely go out. Holidays are rare etc. Given the current state of the health service here at the moment I feel I have to buy health insurance. I am lucky I can make that choice.


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