Health insurance & cycling

outfox

Not sure if the moderators will allow this question. But anyway, here goes.
With the impending May deadline re health insurance age loading, the time has come to take it out. I had HI up to 3 years ago, but gave it up and used the savings to buy bikes. Ha! Just wondering if there's a consensus for the best HI package for cyclists? I'm leaning towards a cheap policy re hospital rooms, but with all the boxes ticked re MRI, physio, etc.

Beasty

CI insurance will cover you up to €2,500 if you are talking about cover for an accident when cycling (assuming you are a member, although the IVCA offers similar cover for cycling accidents)

Having said that I've forked out more than that.

In terms of emergency cover my PHI had virtually no impact. The one thing it allowed me to do was escape hospital over Paddy's Day weekend without losing my place in the queue for an operation (which was all very odd given I was effectively bed-blocking - another guy on the same ward was stuck in hospital for 2 weeks or more, with each day potentially being the day he would go down to theatre!)

When I got out of hospital I went private at the first opportunity. Your PHI takes the first chunk of any costs with CI insurance kicking in for what they didn't cover

I would though suggest you check out what physio cover is available (I've gone through the policy limits under both the PHI policy and the CI cover)

outfox

Thanks Beasty. I've followed your crash and recovery on the boards. Am I right in thinking that a crash as bad as yours would not be a regular occurrence? Most crashes are usually less severe, I'm thinking. Like maybe a broken collar bone, or a broken tooth, or a mangled knee. For those sorts of injuries, cover for an MRI, some hospital time (maybe as an outpatient) and some follow up physio would be fairly well covered between the PHI and the CI cover? I actually don't care about the public bed / private ward thing - I think the insurers put way too much emphasis on that. I agree with you about PHI being useless for A&E.

Beasty

outfox wrote: »

Thanks Beasty. I've followed your crash and recovery on the boards. Am I right in thinking that a crash as bad as yours would not be a regular occurrence?

I would certainly hope so!!

Bear in mind I was racing which obviously increases the risks significantly

When I broke my wrist falling on ice a few years ago, insurance cover was pretty much irrelevant. A trip to casualty to get a cast on and repeat visit to get it replaced once the swelling had gone down. Then a follow-up to get it removed (although it had pretty much "fallen" off by then anyway!!)

However if you do need any follow-up the public waiting lists can be very long. You can get to see the specialists privately (think I ended up seeing specialists covering 6 different disciplines privately) which often accelerates the process.

On the specific point of broken teeth - I broke 4 in the crash. My PHI covered emergency treatment. It turns out you need to get the teeth seen to within a day or so of the accident or the cover does not kick in - in my case I was too busy getting the rest of my body sorted out and indeed was not permitted to get the teeth even looked at for a couple of months, making the PHI completely useless. Hopefully the CI insurance will pay out on that.

Anyway there are plenty of other regulars in the forum that have had to avail of the health system in recent times who I am sure can add their own comments here

Craig06

Have a look at Glohealth as you can add sports cover onto some of their packages. That's what I pay for at the moment.

outfox

Yeah, that Glohealth sports add-on caught my eye. That's what prompted my query here - if we are covered by CI, do we need the sports add-on?

68 lost souls

I have the glohealth sports add-on but it is still only 2 physio appointments covered.

I have had 8 sessions in 2014 and was not covered for most of them.

In the end I have about €1000 of expenses not covered after 2 arthroscopic surgeries and associated consultant visits and physio needs. Now in saying that my health insurance covered all of the rest including a week in a private ward in Santry Sport Clinic, the operations themselves (bar 100 excess) and the scans so definitely worth it.

outfox

Thanks 68. Were most of those expenses (eg. the week stay) covered by the basic Glohealth policy? If so, what advantage does the add-on give you?

Lusk_Doyle

68 lost souls wrote: »

I have the glohealth sports add-on but it is still only 2 physio appointments covered.

I have had 8 sessions in 2014 and was not covered for most of them.

In the end I have about €1000 of expenses not covered after 2 arthroscopic surgeries and associated consultant visits and physio needs. Now in saying that my health insurance covered all of the rest including a week in a private ward in Santry Sport Clinic, the operations themselves (bar 100 excess) and the scans so definitely worth it.

If you pay prsi you can claim some money back on medical costs after your insurer has done their thing with you. You need a med1 form and all of your receipts.

Wishbone Ash

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

If you pay prsi you can claim some money back on medical costs after your insurer has done their thing with you. You need a med1 form and all of your receipts.

AFAIK that only applies to those on the original 'A' stamp and to newbies who began paying PRSI after 1995. Those of us on the 'D' stamp don't get those benefits.

Lusk_Doyle

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

AFAIK that only applies to those on the original 'A' stamp and to newbies who began paying PRSI after 1995. Those of us on the 'D' stamp don't get those benefits.

Sorry grandad.

blobbie

outfox wrote: »

Not sure if the moderators will allow this question. But anyway, here goes.
With the impending May deadline re health insurance age loading, the time has come to take it out. I had HI up to 3 years ago, but gave it up and used the savings to buy bikes. Ha! Just wondering if there's a consensus for the best HI package for cyclists? I'm leaning towards a cheap policy re hospital rooms, but with all the boxes ticked re MRI, physio, etc.

http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/FAQ.pdf

See points 6) & 7) and Appendix A example c ii) for some info on "qualifying credited period".

68 lost souls

OP I am on the VHI Better plan which gives me 2 optional extra plans, I choose sports and dental. There are some differences between the plans it is a good idea to look at the breakdown of coverage and see exactly what suits you best.

The sports coverage also offers free metabolic testing, 2 contributions to a sports massage as well as discounted VO2 max testing and SAD screening as well as ER coverage.

Lusk_Doyle, I am actually going through the process of claiming back, I had a spreadsheet done up of all my expenses just want to double check the dental ones to see what is covered. Looks like I should get most of it covered under my tax refund.

Lusk_Doyle

68 lost souls wrote: »

Lusk_Doyle, I am actually going through the process of claiming back, I had a spreadsheet done up of all my expenses just want to double check the dental ones to see what is covered. Looks like I should get most of it covered under my tax refund.

Throw it all at them! That what my missus does!