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DO YOU HAVE health insurance?
Know what it entitles you to?
In all likelihood, you don’t.
And checking the fine print of your policy to make sure you’re on a competitive one is no-one’s idea of a good time.
Health insurance expert Dermot Goode of TotalHealthCover.ie had some really eye-opening advice in this area when he stopped by the newsroom for a chat yesterday.
Some people on more expensive plans, he said, could save up to a grand by shopping around.
The secret – apparently – to making sure you’ve got the best deal is to make the insurance providers do the work for you.
Call them with a checklist – and make sure you ask the right questions. There’s not much to it, he says – but you might want a “flask of coffee” by your side as you make your calls.
[Click the video for the full advice - or read on, if you don't have time/fast enough internet right now]
“Rather than trying to wade your way through 388 page plans – decide on your budget,” Goode says.
“So if you decide – right I’ve got €800 to spend, then contact the insurance company or your broker or go online, and basically tell them ‘I have €800 to spend, what’s the best plan you could give me for €800?’.
Now, there’s no deals to be done, some people have said to me ‘ah sure I’m showing my hand by telling them the amount of money’. It doesn’t matter – you’re actually making them do the work for you.
“And you can say to the insurance company, whether it’s a corporate plan or a nurse’s or teacher’s plan I don’t mind – give me your best plan for that amount of money.
- Much too much -
75 to 80 per cent of us who have health insurance right now are paying “way too much,” says Goode.
Providers, he says, will often take the plan you’re on, put it out under a different name at a lower price “and you could end up staying on your plan, and paying too much”.
Essentially, renewing your health insurance is a bit like trading up to a newer car.
Goode’s advice: Never tell them “I can’t afford the plan, what do you recommend?” – because then the provider can just pick whatever they want, and suggest it to you.
Instead say:
Here’s what I want – now, I want you to go and check all of your plans and give me the closest equivalent plan to what I have.
“If they then come back and make a recommendation then the question would be ‘is that the best plan?’ – because these calls are all recorded – and then get them to explain whatever differences there are.
And that’s it – make them do the work for you.
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Health insurance is another scam in banana republic Ireland, right in line with Irish water, usc, property tax, whole property market etc.
Lived in couple other European countries for a while and they would laugh in your face if you said you’re still paying 50 eur for a gp visit while being employed and paying taxes.
You can’t get blood out of a stone. How long do you think this new over 34 rule will last before they start hiking the rates. If people don’t have the money, they can’t pay. Most of the policies under 800 euro are useless anyway. It’s a scam.
They didn’t say how you can really save on health insurance : don’t get health insurance!
You can save or put money into a cash fund (like HSF, and I think glo do one) which should cover yourself for most extra expenses. Children are always covered in children’s hospitals as well for major issues without private insurance, so that is another waste.
Ripping people off!!!! What’s PRSI for these days!!!!! We pay enough Leo!!!!!!!!
Somebody has to pay for all the medical cards…..
He may be a health insurance expert but he’s no business expert. First rule of purchase, don’t tell the seller how much you have/willing to spend.
“No! You have to take a day of work and ring them all! Then you ring them back in a different voice. Different voice, different quote.” – according to No Nonsense at least!
Health insurance will be like buying priority boarding. If everyone on the flight has priority boarding, who gets on first?
Have never believed in health insurance, have never had it except for a short time when it was offered as a perk with my job.
I do believe we need to campaign for a health service which focuses upon need rather than the size of your wallet or insurance policy. I believe not having a health insurance plan helps me ensure I continue to campaign for a better health service for all.
Hoping all the people priced out of the health insurance market will campaign for a better health care free at the point of entry for all! Not just for themselves, but also for their family, friends and the people who have nobody to campaign for them.
Here’s even better advice. Stop eating crap and chill out. Hopefully won’t need health insurance.
Yea ‘hopefully’
Doesn’t work, I live a well adjusted lifestyle, not super fit, but definitely not unhealthy, ate healthy food, non smoker, lower than moderate drinker, good exercise (through heavy manual work)….. Then bang, out of the blue cancer.
Biggest thing I noticed while sat in reception waiting for treatment is the amount of times I’ve overheard “sorry, your policy doesn’t cover you for that”
Seems to me all the insurance policies it get you to the front of the queue for non life threatening illness and maybe a nicer room (although to be honest I’ve never looked into it) and I feel I’ve been better treated because I don’t have a policy, but strongly believe 30 years of taxes and prsi entitle me to it.
Can you believe that they come out with the biggest scam ever even though we are running a 2bn tax surplus.
There is never going to be an end to austerity while FG are in government. Use your vote wisely.
You’re an idiot, were not running a 2 billion surplus.
Are you really going to get anything different on the phone than they’re showing online.
It’s way easier to have the facts and figures in front of you, than hear it over the phone and try to remember.
When you check it out on line then ring the companies & see if they can better it
Yes, they do not advertise many of their plans (Hence the “whether it’s a corporate plan or a nurse’s or teacher’s plan I don’t mind” comment in the article)
RIP off.
I thought the advertising slot for private health insurance was yesterday?
I was shocked to learn a few month back that even if your employer offers you health insurance as part of your company perk we still have to pay tax on it as this is considered as benefits in kind. It turns out that most people don’t know that and that we have to pay in most cases the higher tax rate 52% on our company provided health plans. (more than half of the total cost). This is taken directly at source every month from our pay slip. Also VAT is already taken on the cost of the plan. Revenue gets VAT plus 52% in tax. win win I’d say.
have your say