Sir, – I wish to agree with the contents of Muiris Houston’s article “My health insurer wanted an extra €900 to maintain my plan. Time to look for options” (Health, November 18th).
He notes that there are 350 different policies on the market. How mad is that? The Heath Insurance Authority website offers some assistance to decipher the 350 but it is short on detail.
I am in the “elderly” bracket and have been with the same company for over 40 years and like many in my age group am very reluctant to change in case of loss of benefit (pre-existing conditions, etc).
Like Muiris Houston, each year I phone the company (on several occasions) to try to work through options to reduce the ever-increasing cost of health insurance and try to maintain the balance between cover and cost.
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Unfortunately, I have encountered conflicting advice on these calls, which is very disturbing.
I don’t blame the staff. I blame the companies. How can they expect staff to answer detailed questions on 350 policies?
Another thing that irks me is that you are advised to ring up before you undergo certain procedures to check that you are covered by your policy.This says it all. Even when you think you are insured you have to ring and check even after the policy is paid for. I know when I insure my house or car exactly what is covered or not.
Policies do not take account of some benefits that pensioners have, such as free GP visits and so on. So you have to take out and pay for a policy that includes items such as this – and even maternity benefits!
I agree that the health insurance market is not competitive. It is good to see a new entrant coming to the market but unless they bring a whole new approach with a simple basic policies, with “top-up cover” at additional cost, only then will we have a consumer-friendly health insurance market. – Yours, etc,
JIM SILKE,
Galway.