Switching health ins providers - what is and isn't a pre-exisiting condition

hkjohn

Reason I ask is that last spring my wife had a slight swelling of her thyroid and went to see a specialist and had a scan in Galway. Nothing serious was found during the initial visit/scan, and following a check-up visit/scan in Nov, she was given the all clear.


If I switch insurance providers (been with Aviva/IL since moving to Ireland four years ago but am very unhappy with them) will this count as a pre-existing condition even though my wife has never had any similar problems before (we've been together for 16 years). Also, how bad an effect is this likely to have on my premiums?

Thanks in advance for your input

Trish56

As far as I'm aware once you have cover with a Health Insurer you can move to a different insurer and still be covered for the existing condition. Ring the insurer you are thinking of switching to who should confirm this.

hkjohn wrote: »

Reason I ask is that last spring my wife had a slight swelling of her thyroid and went to see a specialist and had a scan in Galway. Nothing serious was found during the initial visit/scan, and following a check-up visit/scan in Nov, she was given the all clear.


If I switch insurance providers (been with Aviva/IL since moving to Ireland four years ago but am very unhappy with them) will this count as a pre-existing condition even though my wife has never had any similar problems before (we've been together for 16 years). Also, how bad an effect is this likely to have on my premiums?

Thanks in advance for your input

Outkast_IRE

No it doesnt count.

For my parents several years ago they were being overcharged by VHI for the type of policy they had so i switched them to Laya - both had very serious and expensive medical conditions at the time but had about 20 years membership with VHI.

Laya confirmed for me they would be fully covered immediately as they were insured long enough. Feel free to ring other insurance providers and chat to them about switching. I find Laya good at the moment and some of their policies covering day to day medical expenses are fair enough price wise and very easy to submit claims on.

I recently got refunded for half the cost of my new glasses and lenses, which is really useful.

Trish56

Simplicity is a very good policy with Laya. I am also with them and find them excellent.

hkjohn

Thanks for all your input, guys...

GerardKeating

hkjohn wrote: »

Thanks for all your input, guys...

One caveat to the advice above, it assumes a like for like switch, if in switching, you upgraded your cover, the "extra cover" might have some restrictions, or a waiting period.