Families are facing further increased costs after health Insurance company VHI hiked its prices once again.
It is the third time the company has increased its prices in the past year.
This time, premiums will rise by an average of 7% from March 1st.
VHI
Dermot Goode from Total Health Cover said the combined increases will be difficult to stomach for many customers.
“It means people may have to find anything from €180 up to nearly €700 for those on the top plan – that is for one adult,” he said.
“For a family, anything from €400 up to nearly €600 for a family year-on-year.”
Price hikes
This latest increase will impact all customers joining or renewing from March 1st onwards.
VHI also announced increases in March and October of last year.
Mr Goode said he is advising people to “urgently review their options” before renewing with VHI.
“The best advice is to decide on your budget for your family health cover and then challenge the insurers to find you similar cover that fits this,” he said.
“Auto-renewing without checking out alternative options should be avoided at all costs.
Mr Goode said the latest increase will add:
- €105 per adult for those on the Enhanced Care 350 plan.
- Between €230 and €315 per adult for those on the Health Plus Extra and Premium Care schemes.
The Total Health Cover spokesman said VHI is also introducing certain restrictions on some of the benefits in its corporate plan.
He said the caps on certain out-patient benefits “may not impact members now but will inevitably lead to lower refunds in the future as practitioners increase their charges”.
