Switch Health Insurance Ireland

Change your health insurance plan or provider with confidence

You have the right to review and switch your health insurance plan or provider.

Switching may help you find cover that better reflects your preferred hospitals, medical priorities, family circumstances and budget.

However, a lower premium does not automatically mean better value. Hospital access, excesses, benefits, waiting periods and planned treatment should all be checked before you move.

At Dooley Insurance Group, we help individuals, couples and families understand their current policy and compare switching options available through our agency appointments.

Renewal approaching? Call Aisling O’Connor on 085 851 4492 before you switch.

Can I switch health insurance provider in Ireland?

Yes. You can switch to another health insurance provider or move to another plan.

Health insurance policies are generally twelve month contracts, making the renewal date the normal time to switch.

According to the Health Insurance Authority, insurers must also provide a fourteen day cooling off period from the beginning of a contract.

Switching outside your renewal or cooling off period may result in cancellation charges, loss of premium refunds or other costs.

The specific cancellation terms should be confirmed with your current insurer before making a midterm change.

When is the best time to switch health insurance?

The best time to review switching options is when your renewal notice arrives.

This gives you time to:

• Review the new premium
• Check for benefit changes
• Compare hospital access
• Review excesses
• Consider alternative plans
• Understand waiting periods
• Check planned treatment
• Confirm the new start date
• Avoid an unintended break in cover

Do not wait until after the renewal date to begin comparing your options.

Why switch health insurance?

You may consider switching if:

• Your premium has increased
• Important benefits have changed
• Your hospital access has changed
• Your excess has increased
• You are paying for benefits you do not use
• Your family circumstances have changed
• You are planning a pregnancy
• You want different outpatient benefits
• Your preferred hospital is not fully covered
• Your employer contribution has changed
• Your current plan is being withdrawn
• Another available option may better reflect your needs

You do not need to switch simply because another plan has a lower premium.

The proposed cover must be compared with what you already have.

What should I compare before switching?

Before moving health insurance plan or provider, compare:

• Annual premium
• Hospital list
• Private hospital access
• High technology hospital access
• Inpatient excess
• Day case excess
• Outpatient excess
• GP and consultant benefits
• Physiotherapy benefits
• Diagnostic tests
• Maternity cover
• Mental health benefits
• Orthopaedic cover
• Cardiac cover
• Cancer treatment
• Children’s benefits
• Waiting periods
• Upgrade waiting periods
• Policy exclusions
• Planned treatment

A comparison should also consider how much you could pay when using the policy, not only the annual premium.

Will I need to serve waiting periods again if I switch?

You will not necessarily need to repeat waiting periods when switching without a significant break in cover.

If you have completed your applicable new customer waiting periods, switching provider should not require those same periods to begin again solely because you moved.

If you are still serving a waiting period, the time already completed will generally be taken into account. You may need to complete the remaining period with the new provider or plan.

Waiting periods may apply where you move to higher benefits.

Your previous level of cover may continue to apply during an upgrade waiting period, subject to the applicable rules and policy terms.

What happens if I upgrade my cover?

An upgrade occurs when you move to a plan that provides higher benefits.

This could include:

• Better hospital access
• Lower inpatient excess
• Lower day case excess
• Higher maternity benefits
• Increased outpatient refunds
• Improved orthopaedic cover
• Improved cardiac cover
• Additional treatment benefits

An upgrade waiting period may apply to the increased benefits for a pre existing condition.

This means you may continue to receive the previous level of cover while waiting for access to the higher benefit.

Do not assume that upgraded cover will apply immediately to treatment you already need.

Can I switch health insurance with a pre existing condition?

Yes. A pre existing medical condition does not normally prevent you from switching health insurance provider.

Insurers must generally offer cover regardless of health or claims history, subject to limited exceptions for certain restricted schemes.

However, if the new plan provides higher benefits, an upgrade waiting period may apply to the increased cover for the pre existing condition.

Your current and proposed benefits should be reviewed carefully before switching.

Can an insurer refuse me because of my health?

Irish private health insurance operates under an acceptance guarantee.

This means an insurer must generally offer cover regardless of your age, health or medical history.

An insurer can apply the relevant waiting periods, policy terms and benefit limits, but it cannot normally refuse an application because you have an existing medical condition.

Limited exceptions apply to certain restricted membership schemes.

Can I switch while receiving treatment?

You can review switching options, but additional care is required where treatment is ongoing or planned.

Before changing plan, confirm:

• Whether the treatment is covered
• Whether the hospital is included
• Whether the consultant or provider is recognised
• Whether pre authorisation has been granted
• What excess applies
• Whether a waiting period applies
• Whether an upgrade waiting period applies
• Whether claims are currently being processed
• Which insurer will be responsible for each part of the treatment

Do not cancel existing cover until the implications for current treatment have been confirmed.

Can I switch health insurance mid policy?

It may be possible to cancel or change health insurance during the policy year, but costs and restrictions may apply.

Health insurance policies are generally twelve month contracts.

Depending on the provider and policy, midterm cancellation may result in:

• Cancellation fees
• Health insurance levy charges
• Administration charges
• Loss of premium refunds
• Liability for claims already paid
• Requirement to pay the remainder of the annual premium

Some providers may allow a move to another plan within the same company during the contract, subject to terms and conditions.

The current insurer should confirm the exact cost before a midterm cancellation or switch.

What is the cooling off period?

Health insurers must provide a fourteen day cooling off period from the start of a new or renewed contract.

During this period, you may be able to cancel and receive a refund, subject to the insurer’s conditions and any claims made.

The provider’s cooling off terms should be reviewed before cancelling or moving to another policy.

Avoid a break in health insurance cover

The new policy should begin immediately after the previous policy ends.

A break in cover can affect:

• Waiting periods
• Lifetime Community Rating
• Continuity of benefits
• Treatment access
• Planned claims
• Evidence of previous insurance

A break of more than thirteen weeks may result in new customer waiting periods applying again.

It may also affect Lifetime Community Rating where the relevant rules apply.

The dates should be confirmed before cancelling the old policy.

Will switching affect Lifetime Community Rating?

Switching provider will not generally change your Lifetime Community Rating loading where there is no break in cover of more than thirteen weeks.

If a loading already applies, the remaining portion will generally continue under the new insurer.

You may be asked to provide evidence of previous cover.

A confirmation of cover letter can normally be requested from the previous insurer.

Switching from Vhi

A Vhi member can review plans available from Vhi and other providers at renewal.

Before switching, check:

• Current Vhi plan
• Renewal premium
• Hospital access
• Inpatient and day case excesses
• Outpatient benefits
• Treatment already approved
• Claims in progress
• Waiting periods
• Proposed replacement benefits
• Exact start and cancellation dates

Dooleys can review relevant switching options available through our agency appointments.

Switching from Laya Healthcare

A Laya Healthcare member should compare the current plan with the proposed alternative before renewal.

Particular attention should be given to:

• Private hospital access
• High technology hospital access
• Orthopaedic benefits
• Cardiac benefits
• Inpatient excesses
• Day case excesses
• Outpatient benefits
• Claims in progress
• Planned treatment
• Upgrade waiting periods

The proposed plan should not be selected on premium alone.

Switching from Irish Life Health

An Irish Life Health member can review their existing cover and compare relevant alternatives at renewal.

The review should include:

• Hospital list
• Inpatient benefits
• Day case benefits
• Outpatient benefits
• Personalised packages or selected benefits
• Maternity cover
• Current claims
• Planned treatment
• Existing waiting periods
• Proposed premium

Any benefits specific to the current plan should be identified before switching.

Switching from Level Health

A Level Health member can review their current plan and compare relevant alternatives at renewal.

The review should consider:

• Hospital access
• Excesses
• Inpatient benefits
• Outpatient benefits
• Family cover
• Child pricing
• Current claims
• Planned treatment
• Waiting periods
• Proposed replacement cover

The cancellation and commencement dates should be coordinated to avoid a break.

Can I switch to another plan with the same insurer?

Yes. Switching does not always require moving to another provider.

Your current insurer may offer another plan with:

• A different premium
• Different hospital access
• Higher or lower excesses
• Different outpatient benefits
• Different family pricing
• Different treatment benefits

Moving within the same provider can still involve upgrade waiting periods where the new plan provides higher benefits.

The plans should be compared in the same way as a move between providers.

Switching family health insurance

A family does not need to move every person to the same new plan.

Each family member can be reviewed separately.

For example:

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

The family should also consider the administrative convenience of using one provider against the potential benefit of different arrangements.

Switching children’s health insurance

Parents should review children’s cover before every renewal.

Compare:

• Child premium
• Hospital access
• Paediatric benefits
• Inpatient excess
• Day case excess
• GP benefits
• Consultant benefits
• Physiotherapy
• Mental health support
• Dental and optical benefits
• Age related price changes

Do not assume that children need the same plan as their parents.

Switching health insurance over 50

Someone over 50 should pay particular attention to:

• Private hospital access
• High technology hospitals
• Orthopaedic cover
• Cardiac cover
• Cancer treatment
• Consultant benefits
• Diagnostic tests
• Hospital excesses
• Outpatient benefits
• Current and planned treatment

Moving to a lower cost plan may be appropriate, but the benefits being reduced should be understood clearly.

Switching corporate health insurance

Employees covered through a company scheme should confirm:

• Employer contribution
• Benefit in Kind
• Current corporate plan
• Options for dependants
• Eligibility for alternative corporate plans
• What happens when leaving employment
• Whether personal waiting periods apply
• Renewal date
• Available continuation options

Employers reviewing a company scheme should consider cost, employee value, administration and communication of benefits.

Health insurance switching checklist

Before switching, confirm:

• Current provider
• Current plan
• Renewal date
• Current premium
• Proposed provider and plan
• New premium
• Hospital access
• Inpatient excess
• Day case excess
• Outpatient benefits
• Planned treatment
• Claims in progress
• Waiting periods
• Upgrade waiting periods
• Cancellation terms
• New policy start date
• Confirmation that there will be no unintended break

Keep written confirmation of cancellation, new cover and previous insurance history.

How Dooleys helps you switch

We review your current plan

We examine your current provider, plan, premium, hospital access and excesses.

We understand your priorities

We discuss the benefits, hospitals and budget that matter to you.

We compare relevant options

We review the available alternatives through our agency appointments.

We explain waiting periods

We identify where a new or upgrade waiting period may need to be considered.

We help coordinate the change

We help you understand the cancellation and commencement dates required to avoid an unintended gap in cover.

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

Switching health insurance questions

Can I switch health insurance provider?

Yes. The renewal date is normally the most suitable time to switch.

Can I switch with a medical condition?

Yes. A medical condition does not normally prevent switching, but an upgrade waiting period may apply to higher benefits.

Will I need to serve waiting periods again?

Not necessarily. Completed waiting periods are generally recognised where there is no significant break in cover.

What happens if I am still serving a waiting period?

The time already completed should generally be taken into account. You may need to complete the remaining period under the new arrangement.

Can I switch during the policy year?

It may be possible, but cancellation charges or other costs may apply.

Is there a cooling off period?

Yes. Health insurers must provide a fourteen day cooling off period from the start of the contract, subject to applicable conditions.

Can I switch to a different plan with the same provider?

Yes. However, an upgrade waiting period may apply to higher benefits.

Will switching affect Lifetime Community Rating?

Not normally where there is no break in cover of more than thirteen weeks. Any existing loading may continue with the new insurer.

Can my family members switch to different plans?

Yes. Each person can be reviewed separately and may select a different plan where appropriate.

Should I switch to the cheapest plan?

Not automatically. Hospital access, excesses, benefits and waiting periods should be compared with the premium.

Can I switch if treatment is planned?

You can review switching options, but the treatment, hospital, pre authorisation and waiting period position should be confirmed first.

What information does Dooleys need?

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

How do I switch without a break in cover?

The new plan should begin immediately after the existing policy ends. Both dates should be confirmed in writing.

How do I request a switching review?

Call Aisling on 085 851 4492 or email aisling@dooleyinsurances.com with your renewal details.

Speak to Dooleys before you switch

Changing health insurance can provide better alignment between your cover, needs and budget, but the details need to be checked carefully.

Send Dooleys your current plan or renewal notice before cancelling or changing your policy.

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, cancellation charges 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.