Compare Health Insurance Plans Ireland

Compare more than the price before choosing your cover

Comparing health insurance plans in Ireland can be difficult.

There are hundreds of plans with different hospital lists, room types, excesses, outpatient benefits, waiting periods and treatment conditions.

Two policies with a similar premium can provide very different cover. A cheaper plan may involve higher hospital excesses or more limited access, while an expensive plan may include benefits that are not relevant to you.

At Dooley Insurance Group, we help individuals, couples, families and businesses compare health insurance options available through our agency appointments.

We explain the important differences in clear language so that you can make a more informed decision.

Call Aisling O’Connor on 085 851 4492 to compare your health insurance options.

How do I compare health insurance plans?

A useful health insurance comparison should examine:

• Annual premium
• Hospital access
• Private and semi private accommodation
• Inpatient excesses
• Day case excesses
• Outpatient excesses
• GP benefits
• Consultant benefits
• Physiotherapy
• Diagnostic tests
• Maternity benefits
• Mental health benefits
• Orthopaedic cover
• Cardiac cover
• Cancer treatment
• Children’s benefits
• Waiting periods
• Upgrade waiting periods
• Policy exclusions and conditions

The most suitable plan is not necessarily the plan with the lowest premium or the longest list of benefits.

It is the plan that provides an appropriate balance between cost, hospital access, benefits and potential out of pocket expenses.

Health insurance providers in Ireland

Ireland currently has four private health insurance providers:

• Vhi Healthcare
• Laya Healthcare
• Irish Life Health
• Level Health

Each provider offers a range of plans with different premiums, benefits, hospital access and excess structures.

The Health Insurance Authority provides an independent comparison tool covering plans available in the Irish market.

Dooley Insurance Group provides advice on health insurance options available through our agency appointments.

Any recommendation will be based on your requirements, circumstances and the products available to us.

What information is needed to compare plans?

Before comparing health insurance, it is helpful to know:

• Current provider
• Current plan name
• Renewal date
• Current or renewal premium
• Number of adults covered
• Number of children covered
• Ages of those insured
• Preferred hospitals
• Important medical benefits
• Existing health insurance history
• Any treatment already planned
• Employer contribution
• Preferred excess
• Maximum budget

A copy of your renewal notice can provide much of the information needed to begin the comparison.

Send Your Renewal Notice to Dooleys

Compare health insurance premiums

The annual premium is important, but it should never be reviewed in isolation.

A lower premium may involve:

• Higher inpatient excesses
• Higher day case excesses
• Reduced private hospital access
• Restricted high technology hospital access
• Lower outpatient refunds
• Reduced maternity benefits
• Different orthopaedic or cardiac cover
• Fewer children’s benefits
• Different treatment conditions

A higher premium does not automatically provide better value.

The practical value depends on which benefits you are likely to need and how the policy operates when treatment or a claim arises.

Compare hospital access

Health insurance plans can provide different levels of access to:

• Public hospitals
• Private hospitals
• High technology hospitals
• Private accommodation
• Semi private accommodation
• Approved treatment centres

You should not assume that a plan covers every private hospital.

Hospital lists can differ between providers and between plans from the same provider.

If you have a preferred hospital, treatment centre or consultant, this should be considered during the comparison.

Compare inpatient excesses

An inpatient excess is the amount you may need to pay when admitted to hospital for eligible treatment.

Plans may apply an excess:

• Per admission
• Per claim
• Per policy year
• At particular hospitals
• For particular treatments

A policy with a lower premium may apply a higher inpatient excess.

The comparison should consider both the annual premium and the amount you could need to pay if admitted to hospital.

Compare day case excesses

A day case procedure is completed without an overnight hospital stay.

Some health insurance plans apply a separate day case excess.

The excess may differ depending on:

• Hospital
• Treatment
• Provider
• Plan
• Number of day case procedures

If you are likely to require regular day case treatment, this benefit may be particularly important.

Compare outpatient benefits

Outpatient benefits can contribute towards eligible day to day medical expenses.

Depending on the plan, these may include:

• GP appointments
• Consultant appointments
• Physiotherapy
• Diagnostic testing
• Dental treatment
• Optical treatment
• Mental health support
• Alternative therapies where included
• Other eligible medical expenses

Plans can calculate outpatient benefits differently.

Some provide a fixed refund for each visit. Others refund a percentage of the cost or apply an annual outpatient excess before benefits begin.

A large list of outpatient benefits does not automatically mean that the plan offers good value. The amount refunded and the premium charged must also be considered.

Compare orthopaedic cover

Orthopaedic treatment can include procedures involving joints, bones, muscles and the spine.

Health insurance plans may apply:

• Different hospital access
• Specific excesses
• Personal contributions
• Restricted benefits
• Different approved treatment centres
• Different rules for particular procedures

Someone concerned about hip, knee, back or other orthopaedic treatment should review these benefits carefully.

Compare cardiac cover

Cardiac cover can vary between plans in relation to:

• Hospital access
• Approved treatment centres
• Procedures covered
• Inpatient excesses
• Personal contributions
• Consultant and diagnostic benefits

If cardiac care is an important priority, the comparison should examine more than the general hospital list.

Compare cancer care

Plans may differ in how they cover eligible cancer treatment and related medical services.

A comparison may consider:

• Hospital access
• Approved treatment centres
• Inpatient treatment
• Day case treatment
• Diagnostic tests
• Consultant cover
• Relevant outpatient benefits
• Other policy conditions

The insurer should be contacted directly where confirmation of a particular treatment or provider is required.

Compare maternity benefits

If you are planning a family, maternity benefits should be reviewed before choosing or upgrading a plan.

The comparison may include:

• Maternity waiting periods
• Public hospital maternity benefits
• Private hospital maternity benefits
• Consultant benefits
• Accommodation
• Pre and postnatal benefits
• Fertility benefits where included
• Newborn cover
• Other maternity related services

A waiting period may apply before upgraded maternity benefits become available.

Taking out or changing cover shortly before treatment is needed may not provide immediate access to the higher benefit.

Compare mental health benefits

Mental health benefits may differ in relation to:

• Inpatient treatment
• Approved hospitals
• Outpatient support
• Counselling benefits
• Digital mental health services
• Treatment limits
• Approved providers
• Excesses

The terms and provider network should be reviewed where mental health cover is a priority.

Compare health insurance for families

Families should not assume that every person needs the same plan.

A family comparison should consider each person separately.

For example:

• One adult may need maternity benefits
• Another may prioritise cardiac or orthopaedic cover
• One family member may use outpatient benefits frequently
• Children may require a different level of hospital access
• One adult may prefer a higher excess and lower premium

Different family members may be placed on different plans where appropriate.

The overall structure should balance individual needs with the family budget.

Compare health insurance for children

Children’s cover should be compared according to:

• Premium
• Hospital access
• Paediatric benefits
• Inpatient excess
• Day case excess
• GP benefits
• Consultant benefits
• Physiotherapy
• Mental health benefits
• Dental benefits
• Optical benefits
• Emergency treatment
• Age limits

Child pricing and benefits can change, making annual review important.

Compare health insurance for couples

Couples do not need to hold identical health insurance plans.

Each person may have different priorities, including:

• Hospital preferences
• Outpatient usage
• Maternity cover
• Medical history
• Orthopaedic cover
• Cardiac cover
• Preferred excess
• Available budget

A comparison should assess each adult’s requirements before choosing the plan structure.

Compare health insurance for people over 50

Someone over 50 may place greater importance on:

• Private hospital access
• High technology hospitals
• Orthopaedic treatment
• Cardiac treatment
• Cancer care
• Consultant access
• Diagnostic tests
• Inpatient excesses
• Day case excesses
• Outpatient benefits

An older plan may still provide suitable cover, but it should not be renewed automatically without checking the current premium and benefits.

Compare corporate health insurance

Employers may provide health insurance as part of an employee benefits package.

A corporate comparison should consider:

• Cost to the employer
• Employee contribution
• Benefit in Kind
• Hospital access
• Inpatient and day case excesses
• Outpatient benefits
• Cover for dependants
• Eligibility rules
• New employee enrolment
• Employee departures
• Renewal administration
• Communication of benefits

Corporate plans can differ from consumer plans, but availability and eligibility must be confirmed.

Compare health insurance excesses

A health insurance excess is the amount you may need to pay towards an eligible claim.

The plan may include:

• Inpatient excess
• Day case excess
• Outpatient excess
• Excess per admission
• Excess per claim
• Excess per policy year

Choosing a higher excess may reduce the annual premium.

However, it can also increase the amount you need to pay when using the policy.

You should compare the potential premium saving with the additional financial risk.

Compare outpatient refunds

Outpatient benefits should be compared based on the actual refund available.

Important questions include:

• Is there an annual excess?
• Is the refund a fixed amount?
• Is it a percentage of the expense?
• Is there a limit per visit?
• Is there a limit on the number of visits?
• Is there a total annual maximum?
• Does the provider need to be approved?
• Can the expense also qualify for tax relief?

A plan advertising many outpatient benefits may still provide a limited practical refund after excesses and limits are applied.

Compare the total potential cost

The true cost of health insurance is not always the annual premium alone.

It can include:

• Annual premium
• Inpatient excesses
• Day case excesses
• Outpatient excesses
• Personal contributions
• Expenses outside policy limits
• Treatment at a hospital not fully covered
• Costs exceeding benefit limits

A comparison should consider what you may pay both before and after making a claim.

Can I compare plans without switching provider?

Yes.

You may be able to move to another plan with the same provider.

A review can compare:

• Current plan
• Other plans from the same provider
• Relevant plans available through Dooleys’ agency appointments
• Different benefit levels
• Different excesses
• Different family structures

Switching provider is only one possible outcome.

Can I compare plans with a pre existing condition?

Yes.

A medical condition does not prevent you from comparing or changing health insurance.

However, a waiting period may apply to higher benefits for a pre existing condition.

Your current level of cover may continue during the upgrade waiting period, subject to the applicable rules and plan conditions.

Existing and proposed benefits should be reviewed carefully before a change is made.

Can I compare plans if treatment is already planned?

Yes, but particular care is required.

Before changing plan, confirm:

• Whether the treatment is covered
• Whether the hospital is included
• Whether the consultant or provider is recognised
• What excess applies
• Whether pre authorisation is needed
• Whether waiting periods apply
• Whether an upgrade waiting period applies
• Whether treatment has already been approved

You should not assume that a new plan will immediately provide a higher benefit for treatment that is already required.

Why use a health insurance broker?

A health insurance broker can help you understand:

• Differences between plans
• Hospital access
• Excess structures
• Waiting periods
• Upgrade conditions
• Family plan options
• Corporate plan options
• Important exclusions
• Renewal changes
• Available alternatives

Dooley Insurance Group provides advice on plans available through our agency appointments.

Our role is to explain the relevant differences and help you make an informed decision.

How Dooleys compares health insurance

We review your current position

We identify your current provider, plan, premium, renewal date and existing benefits.

We understand your priorities

We discuss preferred hospitals, important benefits, family needs and budget.

We examine relevant options

We review the suitable options available through our agency appointments.

We explain the differences

We explain hospital access, excesses, benefits, waiting periods and costs.

You make the decision

You receive the information needed to decide whether to renew, change plan or switch provider.

Speak to Aisling O’Connor

Aisling O’Connor, CIP APA, is a Director of Dooley Insurance Group and heads the Health Insurance Section.

Aisling joined Dooley Insurance Group in 2009 and provides health insurance advice to individuals, families and businesses.

Phone: 085 851 4492

Email: aisling@dooleyinsurances.com

Health insurance comparison questions

What should I compare when choosing health insurance?

Compare premium, hospital access, inpatient excesses, day case excesses, outpatient benefits, waiting periods and benefits relevant to your circumstances.

What is the best health insurance plan in Ireland?

There is no single best plan. The right plan depends on your needs, hospital preferences, family circumstances and budget.

Can Dooleys compare every health insurance plan?

Dooleys provides advice on health insurance options available through our agency appointments.

Is the cheapest health insurance plan the best?

Not necessarily. A cheaper plan may provide more limited hospital access, higher excesses or lower benefits.

Can I compare plans from different providers?

Yes. Relevant plans can be compared based on benefits, cost, excesses and hospital access.

Can family members have different plans?

Yes. Each family member may be placed on a different plan where appropriate.

Can couples have different health insurance providers?

It may be possible for each person to have separate cover based on their needs and chosen provider.

Will I need to serve waiting periods if I switch?

You will not necessarily repeat all waiting periods, but a waiting period may apply to new or increased benefits.

Can I compare plans with a medical condition?

Yes. Your condition does not prevent comparison, but higher benefits may be subject to an upgrade waiting period.

Should I compare plans before every renewal?

Yes. Premiums, benefits, hospital lists and your personal circumstances can change.

Can changing my excess reduce the premium?

A higher excess may reduce the annual premium, but it increases the amount you could pay following treatment.

What information do I need?

Your current plan, provider, renewal date, premium, family details, hospital preferences and renewal notice are helpful.

Can Dooleys help with corporate health insurance?

Yes. We provide advice on corporate health insurance options available through our agency appointments.

How do I request a comparison?

Call Aisling on 085 851 4492 or email your current plan and renewal details to aisling@dooleyinsurances.com.

Compare your health insurance before you renew

Do not compare health insurance on price alone.

Send Dooleys your current plan or renewal notice and let our health insurance team explain the differences that matter.

Call Aisling: 085 851 4492

Email: aisling@dooleyinsurances.com

Naas office: 045 431642

Edenderry office: 046 973 1218

The information on this page is general and does not constitute personal medical, financial, legal or tax advice. Health insurance premiums, benefits, hospital lists, excesses, waiting periods and policy conditions may change. Cover remains subject to the insurer’s terms and conditions.

Dooley Insurances Ltd t/a Dooley Insurance & Mortgage Brokers and Dooley Insurance Group is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.