Vhi Healthcare is to increase prices across a number of its plans by an average of 3 per cent from next month.
The rise will come into effect from March 1st this year, and is expected to impact around 1.2 million customers.
Vhi chief executive John O’Dwyer said the increases were necessary to offset costs incurred by the company since charges for private patients occupying a bed in public hospitals were introduced on January 1st.
He said the full impact of these charges was still uncertain.
The insurer’s most popular plans from the One Plan range will increase by approximately 2 per cent.
“We are aware of the enormous financial pressures facing our customers and have sought to keep the price increase as low as possible,” Mr O’Dwyer said.
“We will continue to prioritise cost management with a view to bringing down costs for the customer while retaining quality of care, developing best practices, encouraging best possible outcomes and at the same time ensuring that there is no over utilisation.”
The company said it achieved a 3 per cent reduction in the cost of claims last year through a combination of measures, including claims efficiency programmes, reduced fees for providers, increased activity in the special claims investigation unit and by transferring medical procedures to lower cost settings.
