Beat the health cover cost crisis with our tips

Prices correct at 24/4/25

Health insurance costs are shooting up just as benefits are being eroded.

Premiums soared 12% last year, while insurers VHI, Laya and Irish Life Health have just downgraded benefits.

If not careful, you could end up paying through the nose for very little cover.

Most at risk are older people who now face huge shortfalls on most policies in cover on joint, eye and heart procedures that become part of life as we get older.

However, some health plans STILL provide full cover at reasonable cost for ALL of these things.

And one policy in particular is highly recommended as it does all of the above while also offering top quality accommodation, according to Ireland’s leading health insurance advisor

But these plans are about to shoot up in price.

Here’s  what to look for and how to grab them while you still can:

Older customers are being hit the hardest by downgrades in health cover.

Most policies no longer cover those joint, heart and eye procedures we will all need in later life, leaving potential shortfalls of tens of thousands  of euros.

“You now have plans, particularly VHI plans,  where the shortfall is 40% - not 20% - for the hips, knees, shoulders and cataracts procedures,” warns Dermot.

With these procedures costing up to €40,000, that leaves many older people with shocking medical bills to pay.

Almost all mid-range policies now have excesses and co-payments of thousands  – usually unless you fork out €4k+ for a high-level plan.

However, there are still six reasonably-priced plans left that will spare you this pain if you know where to look.

Log onto the Health Insurance Authority website and search for plans costing less than €2700 with high day-to-day benefits and full orthopaedic, ophthalmic and cardiac cover (in high tech hospitals).

Only these six pop up – and five of them are from Laya (see table). These are the only plans with full cover for under €2700 for operations that older people routinely need.

“If you want full cover, there’s always Simply Connect and Simply Connect Plus,” advises Dermot.

Get what’s right for you

Take a different approach depending on your age and requirements.

“A 65-year-old will have very different needs to a 35-year-old,” says Dermot.

“Young healthy people who just want low premiums will take on high excesses and extra risk because they don't see themselves needing some procedures (i.e. heart, eye and joint procedures) for 20 years - which makes sense.”

Instead, they prize other benefits from fitbits and gym memberships to treatments for fertility and ‘gender dysphoria’ (where people are unhappy being the gender they were born as (see Consumer Eye).

If you’re older, consider these 6 deals

Health insurance plans with high routine expenses cover and full cover for certain heart, joint and eye procedures.

Plan B may not be the best option

Plan B Options used to be the mainstay of mid-range health insurance plans.

Years ago, the VHI migrated thousands of people on this old stalwart plan onto another one they called Health Plus Extra.

Knowing that people who stuck to this plan were unlikely to shop around, it was degraded and became poor value and widely criticized (as our readers may know) until it was eventually scrapped last year.

The VHI then migrated members on this plan to a new one call Advanced Care Extra Day-to-Day.

Well, guess what? This one doesn’t offer great value either!

“The old  B Options scheme (Health Plus Extra) was €3400 before they retired it and they replaced it with a plan called Advanced Care Extra Day-to-Day. And that plan is now €3762,”says Dermot.

“But there are other options for those members. They can go to Laya plans or lower cost plans with VHI, where they keep their orthopedic cover. So there still is value.” (See table for suitable plans for older people).

Be clinical

Many health cover plans offer access to clinics.

These are a great alternative to waiting 24 hours in A&E.

But equally, they are not much use if there are no clinics in your area.

“The VHI have new plans where you don't have any cover for the Swift Care  minor injury unit. So if you live near one that could be an issue but if not if you don't,” Dermot advises.

Ask the right questions

There are several options to help you get the best deal on health cover.

• Get independent advice.

• Compare plans and get information on the Health Insurance Authority website.

• Speak to insurers about what is the best plan for you.

An insurer must answer truthfully  but can only respond to the questions you ask so it’s important to frame your queries well. 

For example, don’t ask simply, can you suggest a plan? Tell them your needs and what plan you are on and ask them to recommend one with similar benefits for less money.

Split cover

You don’t need to have everyone on the same plan, or even with the same insurer. Split everyone according to their needs.

Play your cards right

Most mid-range plans can have loads of benefits such as online or over-the-phone GP, nurse and physio consultations.

You can also get cash back for a wide range of things from GP visits to dental and optical costs.

Play your cards right and you can save a lot of money.

For example, use online or phone consultations where appropriate.

Or use up your allowance for routine expenses by, say, getting new glasses or dental work done before the end of the policy year.

Kids can go free

Laya has an offer on certain policies that may suit large families – pay for one child and the rest are free.

“Free kids is a limited time offer, available on selected plans from 1st April to 30th June 2025,” Laya says.

Cut your benefitsIf you need to reduce your premium costs, you can opt for less cover or higher excesses. This is a better option than cancelling your policy, which could cost you dearly in the long run.