Thinking if giving up VHI

Sleeper12

Former Observer wrote:

Early thirties.

You can give it up for a few years & rejoin without any loading. Very important though is to keep proof of the years that you had VHI.

It's a waste of money if you are young and healthy but as you hit middle age & beyond you start to need it more and more.

listermint

I have a top level policy via work.

But frankly it was crap for when I wanted some tests done. And I do mean crap.

Yes I got seen faster. But I ended up paying through the nose for the tests. Vhi gave me the run around in terms of covering the costs and were cynically trying to play down their percentage cover.

They are not helpful. Their job is to get the most money out of people and give you the run around should they make mistakes in your policy.

Subsequently they made another large error by not adding someone to the policy when they had emailed to say they did.

Overall pretty dam rubbish experience with them frankly.

lawred2

listermint wrote: »

I have a top level policy via work.

But frankly it was crap for when I wanted some tests done. And I do mean crap.

Yes I got seen faster. But I ended up paying through the nose for the tests. Vhi gave me the run around in terms of covering the costs and were cynically trying to play down their percentage cover.

They are not helpful. Their job is to get the most money out of people and give you the run around should they make mistakes in your policy.

Subsequently they made another large error by not adding someone to the policy when they had emailed to say they did.

Overall pretty dam rubbish experience with them frankly.

My wife had to get some tests done for cancer recently... She had the list of procedures and where she was scheduled to get them done. Rang VHI to ask what it is that they cover.. didn't get a straight answer. Surely it's a black or white matter.

lawred2

She's clear by the way..

But you should have seen their 'cancer commitment' in the brochure.

Our private health system is a stain on Irish governments.

listermint

lawred2 wrote: »

My wife had to get some tests done for cancer recently... She had the list of procedures and where she was scheduled to get them done. Rang VHI to ask what it is that they cover.. didn't get a straight answer. Surely it's a black or white matter.

Evasive bunch. I'm in no doubt it's mandated to confuse the cover as much as they can.

I phoned before going into see one of their own consultants and was told to pay up front

Then went to claim and was told I shouldn't have paid and that I had to claim back off consultant and then they reimburse them.


Nuts...

Abba987

Victor Incalculable Grapefruit wrote: »

Bless.

??

Abba987

As said domino is way better than any other plan when pregnant.

Also found that with vhi, always had trouble getting a straight answer on what was covered. Nothing it seemed in terms of outpatient tests.

You may have to fight your corner in the public system. I've made calls and sent in complaints if I felt I wasn't getting a good service. But overall I am well looked after

If you can afford it I guess why not. But i just can't justify it as an outgoing on the income I have now

As said do change provider and plans to get the best deal

Lia_lia

Domino is great but not suitable for everyone. Only offered in some hospitals and you have to be living within a certain distance of the hospital. I was on it but was kicked off due to having gestional diabetes. Saying that I’m still glad I went public. Getting loads of extra scans etc for nothing!

meeeeh

For me private maternity isn't essential at all. Nobody will put you on waiting list when having a baby but if you are on the waiting list for hip replacement, knee surgery or colonoscopy you might be very happy if you have private insurance. I didn't overly need to avail of private insurance except getting private room but OH could skip a few ques for procedures and consultant appointments.

Gimme A Pound

Abba987 wrote: »

??

The naivety of saying you'd camp outside until you're seen. You'd expect them to skip you past people? You'd be able for camping out that long even if seriously ill?

Health insurance here costs way less than in other first world countries.

ste

I have private health ins. I'd recommend anyone who can should get insurance. Without going into personal experience some things good private health gets is

- quicker access to many diagnostic tests
- quicker access to outpatient consultants - which ties into point 1
- more comfortable accommodation if inpatient in one of the more modern private facilities, eg. Private room
- quicker access for elective surgeries /procedures

If you get seriously ill or acute issue public care will be on par, but it's all about not getting to that stage. Outcome will almost always be better with quicker intervention.

Private health for me in Ireland means quicker earlier access to consultants, diagnostics and surgery/intervention if required.

My 2c

Still waters

Money talks and the poor can go and fcuk themselves is the medical view in Ireland

Gimme A Pound

Still waters wrote: »

Money talks and the poor can go and fcuk themselves is the medical view in Ireland

The poor have medical cards. Where is the money supposed to come from that meets the costs paid for by insurance?

BarryD2

Former Observer wrote: »

Thinking of giving up VHI. My parents have twenty years put into into it and I've another nine or ten. I don't see the point. Seems like a scam and philosophically I'm against private health insurance. Am I wrong? For the wage I'm on it's a big expense.

Problem with VHI and health insurance generally is that it's marketed like a pension scheme - put yer money in now and benefit when you're older, that's the mantra.

But and it's a big but, it's actually sold like car or house insurance on an annual basis. Once they get their claws into you and you've paid several years contributions, it becomes harder and harder to justify pulling out. Because once you do, you lose whatever status you've accrued and have to start again if you wish to re enter. So in that sense, it is a 'scam'. You're only ever as good as your last annual contribution, regardless of what you've paid over the decades.

If it really like a pension scheme, I'd have no problem - put some money in this year, can't afford it next - then take a break, carry on the following and so on.

Wheety

BarryD2 wrote: »

Problem with VHI and health insurance generally is that it's marketed like a pension scheme - put yer money in now and benefit when you're older, that's the mantra.

But and it's a big but, it's actually sold like car or house insurance on an annual basis. Once they get their claws into you and you've paid several years contributions, it becomes harder and harder to justify pulling out. Because once you do, you lose whatever status you've accrued and have to start again if you wish to re enter. So in that sense, it is a 'scam'. You're only ever as good as your last annual contribution, regardless of what you've paid over the decades.

If it really like a pension scheme, I'd have no problem - put some money in this year, can't afford it next - then take a break, carry on the following and so on.

But you could need it tomorrow.

Sheep Shagger

It's like all insurance - you are buying protection should you need it, it might seem like a waste but....

If your decision is cost driven then review your policy and just get a basic one (look at other companies). Ring VHI and ask them for a comparative policy from their corporate range (they have to offer this even of you are not a corporate customer).

The regulator website is also a good starting point (the hia dot ie.)

.......

lawred2 wrote: »

Once you're in the public system you get the same consultants as an inpatient.

This used to be true but my last 2 orthopediac consultants have given up their public jobs and only do private now.

I dont know if its the same in other areas.

I used to go public for orthopediacs in Tallaght throughout my 20s and every single appointment I had to re-explain the situation to some guy Id never met who didnt speak english well and they would fob me off til the next appointment.

Eventually I just stopped going and when the situation suddenly drastically dis-improved I went private and was on the operating table 3 weeks later.

.......

lawred2 wrote: »

My wife had to get some tests done for cancer recently... She had the list of procedures and where she was scheduled to get them done. Rang VHI to ask what it is that they cover.. didn't get a straight answer. Surely it's a black or white matter.

I had murder with them over the exact same thing.

A constant non answering of a straightforward question.

PHG

lawred2 wrote: »

She's clear by the way..

But you should have seen their 'cancer commitment' in the brochure.

Our private health system is a stain on Irish governments.

This... Not everything is the government's fault and I am not aligned to a party. Maybe you should have asked for the operators manager to clear it up what was covered.

My mother has stage 4 cancer and vhi has been great. I have had 12 procedures on my spine, no issues claiming and usually seen and operated on within 3 weeks. Have been seen within a week twice. Do I have to pay for consultants, yes but I couldn't give a crap. I am delighted for the 2 tier health service here as it means I am fast tracked. Is it unfair, yes, do I care that I skip the queue, never! Been insured in UK too and the private ones only pay to bring you back to a standard way of living.

I have other issues that kept me in hospital for 5 weeks and had a semi private room within 2 days. The auld lad had a quad heart bypass in 4 working days after his private check up showed issues.

In my view it is worth it and easing back on a night out a month.

lawred2

PHG wrote: »

This... Not everything is the government's fault and I am not aligned to a party. Maybe you should have asked for the operators manager to clear it up what was covered.

My mother has stage 4 cancer and vhi has been great. I have had 12 procedures on my spine, no issues claiming and usually seen and operated on within 3 weeks. Have been seen within a week twice. Do I have to pay for consultants, yes but I couldn't give a crap. I am delighted for the 2 tier health service here as it means I am fast tracked. Is it unfair, yes, do I care that I skip the queue, never! Been insured in UK too and the private ones only pay to bring you back to a standard way of living.

I have other issues that kept me in hospital for 5 weeks and had a semi private room within 2 days. The auld lad had a quad heart bypass in 4 working days after his private check up showed issues.

In my view it is worth it and easing back on a night out a month.

Two tier health system where the public system is one of the worst rated in Europe is 100% the fault of Irish governments..

Who else is at fault?

PHG

lawred2 wrote: »

Two tier health system where the public system is one of the worst rated in Europe is 100% the fault of Irish governments..

Who else is at fault?

Where did I mention a good public health system? I am stating that the OP keeps their VHI cause of the two tiered system.

You said the private health system is a shambles on the government, which is what I was referring to in my response to you. The private health system being ahead of the public is not the fault of a government, otherwise there would be no point in private healthcare.

The state of a bad public system is an governmental issue, but when would pay for extra you want extra, which is my original point and nothing to do with the government.

If I remember correctly (open to correction) the government forced the private health firms to stop turning into the UK model and leave fees flat ish instead of going up heavily depending on age

lawred2

PHG wrote: »

Where did I mention a good public health system? I am stating that the OP keeps their VHI cause of the two tiered system.

You said the private health system is a shambles on the government, which is what I was referring to in my response to you. The private health system being ahead of the public is not the fault of a government, otherwise there would be no point in private healthcare.

The state of a bad public system is an governmental issue, but when would pay for extra you want extra, which is my original point and nothing to do with the government.

If I remember correctly (open to correction) the government forced the private health firms to stop turning into the UK model and leave fees flat ish instead of going up heavily depending on age

The existence of PHI at all and all the vested interests that come with that is entirely the fault of successive Irish governments.

Eggs For Dinner

Always had health insurance. My last stint in hospital was 2 yrs ago. Consultant told me the public waiting list was 3 years and he only had a window of 12/18 months to do his thing or there was no point. Got done 8 weeks later. I get copies of the invoices as they are paid and it's gone past 100k (there were complications). I has this procedure before at 34 years of age, though only half the cost of this one.

It's like all insurance. It's a waste of money if you never need it, It's the best value ever if you do. Our health system is what it is and I want access to the best if I need it

Ursus Horribilis

I hate that we have this two-tier health system but I've had private healthcare since my early 20s. I didn't really need it for the first decade or so but I've ended up having to avail of it from time to time as I've got older. Nothing serious but enough for me to be glad I hadn't been stuck on a long waiting list or faced with big bills. I had an accident a few years ago and reaped the benefit of being able to jump queues, access consultants etc. I feel a bit grubby about it in some days but on the other hand, I'm probably in better physical condition than I'd have been otherwise. You'll always get treated if you break your leg or something but if you need a dermatologist or orthopaedics or the myriad of other "non-urgent" ologists out there, you'll be waiting. I've someone in the family who eventually had to just go pay a surgeon etc. rather than wait even longer.

It pays to shop around. My health insurance comes up for renewal in January so I keep an eye out for podcasts (RTE/Newstalk) and newspaper articles about the current advice about who to switch to. Or look here https://www.totalhealthcover.ie/ I've managed to keep my decent cover at a consistent price for a few years by switching to equivalent plan. There are a lot of smoke and mirrors involved in healthcare plans, unfortunately.

TimeToShine

If I were advising a healthy reasonably fit 18 year old I'd tell him to forgo it, enjoy the money while you're young and sign up in your early thirties. You'll have insurance for when you go off travelling and the public system will be enough to handle nearly everything. Physio sessions here and there for a sore knee paid for out of pocket included. Provided that you're not a smoker, do a decent bit of exercise, and eat reasonably well and get out a fair bit then it's statistically the right move.

For you OP I don't think you should cancel now, yes it has been a waste of money but on paper you're likely to need it from this point onwards.

KilOit

Waste of money unless it's being used on orthopedics, you'll be long in the ground by the time you get your dodgy knee or hip sorted with elective orthopedics.
Any life threatening illness is covered very well as a public outpatient. from GP to seeing a consultant should be no more than 3-6 months if classed as urgent.

if you are in your 20's you would be far better off putting any of that money you'd spend on private health care into a savings fund.

Eggs For Dinner

KilOit wrote: »

Any life threatening illness is covered very well as a public outpatient. from GP to seeing a consultant should be no more than 3-6 months if classed as urgent.
.

You need to understand that illnesses which have the potential to ruin the quality of life you will endure until you die are not a priority under the public health system. ( not saying that's fair). These are different to life threatening

mvl

KilOit wrote: »

Waste of money unless it's being used on orthopedics, you'll be long in the ground by the time you get your dodgy knee or hip sorted with elective orthopedics.
Any life threatening illness is covered very well as a public outpatient. from GP to seeing a consultant should be no more than 3-6 months if classed as urgent.

if you are in your 20's you would be far better off putting any of that money you'd spend on private health care into a savings fund.

having to wait 3-6 months for a life threatening illness is mad. I've seen enough about this public system to be bitter about it.
imo, if you're in your 20's, low salary, move your arse to get a job that pays for your private health insurance, cause this public system ain't going to get fixed soon.

OEP

Stick with it, it's not that expensive. By the way some people are going on, you could go off and travel the world on the money you'd save.

I was 25 and very healthy, had an 800 EUR policy and got very sick. Was in a public hospital for a week, in a ****ty ward, it was miserable. I needed surgery and was going to have a general surgeon in the public hospital do it. Made a few calls, got moved to a private hospital to have specialist surgeon do it. Ended up spending a month in hospital, but at least it was in a really nice private hospital with comfortable beds, nice food, quiet, etc. rather than a noisy ward with awful food (these things make a huge difference when you're really sick and in hospital for a long time). Bill came to 30,000 - of which I paid a 500 excess. Well worth it, especially considering I've had follow up work costing about another 10,000 and have skipped waiting lists for MRIs, scopes etc.

beggars_bush

the public maternity service is actually better than the private version