I live in Spain, it costs just over €100 per month for my wife and 2 children to have full medical cover in private clinics. An excellent service and piece of mind.
The public system is a bit of a disaster because it is saturated……but as a PAYE worker here, if I need a doctor fast I go the the “Urgencias” or emergency room where they see you straight away (depending on seriousness) and there is no cost.
If I need a doctor for a cold or something, I make an appointment, the doctor sees you and again there is no cost. The state also finances most of the cost of the medicines even if you are only told to take paracetamol for 3 days, it costs a euro for the box.
And Spain too is in trouble. But this system works much better the the Irish.
In the private system which is affordable for many, and I want to see a urologist, or dermatologist, you make an appointment with them directly. No need to go through a GP.
In Ireland we have far too many GPs and not enough specialists. Most people can distinguish complaints an should see the relevant specialists. If there were more specialists then perhaps they would reduce their costs as there is more competition?

I get it as part of my employment package, covers my whole family. I feel lucky to have it and value it highly. All my family members have used it more than once.

Try paying for health insurance in the US,it’s basically a system of either “Pay or Die”. Many people consider access to health insurance a major decision on where they work and the type of job they can afford to accept. There have been cases of uninsured peoples houses being remortgaged or forcibly removed to pay for medical costs. As bad as the Irish system is we have a lot to be grateful for.

It might be more informative to split the yes votes between “yes my employer pays for it” and “yes I pay for it”?

I can afford it, but I don’t have it, as I’m morally opposed to the way health insurance operates in this country. Completely against the two tier system.

I remember when there was no such ‘product’.

A Scammer Joe if ever there was!

Everyone should be entitled to equal health care but sadly we don’t live in an equal society.

Just renewed Aviva policy. It increased by 68% over last years premium – up to €3555.00. The reason? Students are not regarded as students when they turn 21. What a bloody rip off.

Back in tithe bad 80′s had to make a choice. House or VHI. No brainier!

I only have it cause the company I work for provides health insurance for staff, if I had to pay myself then I probable would not have health insurance.

I have health insurance, the cost of which is taken out of my pension. Only recently, I looked carefully at my payment slip and was shocked to discover how much I was paying. When I need any tests my GP insists on sending me public. The hospital then asks if I want to go privately and I usually say yes! But this is after spending quite a long while waiting for my first appointment. I agree with the contributor who advocated people making appointments directly with consultants.

I got health insurance out when we attended a private procedure in Northern Ireland for an ailment that my young daughter suffered that was overkooked by the irishhealth services. A procedure that saved her life. It was expesive but worth it. Health Insrance gives you the luxury to seek the best doctors and care fast without going on a waiting list. Shame really thats how this country works with everything. I dont see Health Insurance as a luxury i see it as a very expensive necessity .

I had but gave it up years ago. I hate health insurance ads which imply that you won’t get treated if you don’t have their product. In Ireland medical needs dictate who gets treated when. I have had colonoscopies endoscopies angiograms coronary artery bypass graft (triple) all as a public patient. For the last few years I have paid the annual max for hospital stay (750€) paid my contribution under the Drugs Payment Scheme each month and paid nGp visits averaging one per month. I claim the tax relief (limited) on that and still reckon it’s cheaper than Heath Insurance. They scare you into wanting their products, look more closely at what you will get without it.

I put the money in a high interest saving account, save myself thousands and can just buy my way in when I need too.

I didn’t renew this year, have being paying for it for years and only once kind of used it, now that’s it’s gotten so expensive I had to cut back. nnThe only time I ever attempted to use it was when I broke my jaw a few years ago. I signed into hospital, was told I’d be operated next day and was put onna no eat policy prior to op. every day at 7pm for 5 days the doctor would come in to say the op wasnt going ahead that day but I’d be promised the next day it would go ahead. I lost over a stone as by the time of op cancelation the Kitchen would be closed. So eventually I got sick of the situation, a nurse told me on the quiet that I was being delayed cos they were charging the Vhi a massive amount for my stay while the public patients were more costly. nSo anyway I signed out as a private patient, went for a big meal, signed straight back in as a public patient and was operated on the next morning.

Dropped mine around Christmas time. It was so expensive, I couldn’t afford to see the doctor when I was sick. Sure, they reimburse you less than half the cost at the end of the year, if you’ve had a minimum of 11 doctor’s visits or something like that, but it was useless to me. I had never claimed once in the 8 years I had it. What a gigantic waste of money that was.

Health Insurance is Madly Expensive. We use to for years on end and never used it so we dropped it to save money and cut back. It’s a shame u can’t get d money back if u haven’t used there services!!!

Can’t afford savings or holidays let alone propping up the two tier health system. And that’s working full time.

Have no insurance, Got treated for a condition recently by one of the best plastic surgeons Im the land, great care and perfect result and all for the price of an overnight stay in UCH Cork plus I see brilliant cardiologist on public health too!, waste ofl money if u ask me

Since I got Aviva Health Insurance I have had laser eye surgery and two operations. I was able to claim on all 3, no questions asked. They also paid for an MRI. I was sick last September and my GP organised a public hospital consultation the date was in December 2013. I decided to go private and have since had the operation, who knows how long I would be waiting publicly and how much pain I would be in by December!! It might be pricey but in my opinion its well worth it.

Largely unnecessary when you are “really sick” which is a nice thing about the Irish system, when the need is emergent people do get excellent care. If however you have that chronic back ache and need a scan or need something non-urgent done – then health insurance will get things done faster. Overall no body in Ireland “needs” health insurance.

gave it up too expensive had it for fourteen years the only thing was claimed off of it was an ingrown toenail …..and the amount that was paid to the hospital scandalous ……….i wonder whos getting the backhanders ….

Like many others here, I dropped the health insurance – in around 2008 – when it became a choice between health insurance and food/daily basics.

I stopped paying into the pension a year later for the same reason. (and discovered that the 28,000 I had already paid in were now worth less than 18,000. I expect by the time I’m old enough for the gov to spring open the locked box it’s in, everyone else – gov, pension provider and markets – will have helped themselves to the rest.)

I do spend that bit extra, if possible, to ensure family’s diet is composed of real, fresh, home-cooked food with no added crap, and have invested in good first aid supplies and training for everyone in the family. That’s the best health insurance I can afford right now.

Had insurance up to about 18 months ago but could only afford the basic package which in essence was useless so cancelled it altogether (wasn’t working at the time, the €300+ was better off in my pocket).

But recently a friend discovered she had cancer and it hit home that I could get sick at any time so have gotten cover via work who incidentally will pay for it. Glad to have it now.

I can bearly afford all the other essential insurance .ie Car, House never mind an over priced health insurance.

Yes, I’m on a work plan. If I wasn’t on a work plan I’d do my damnedest to pay myself.

People whinge at the cost of health insurance. If they developed a disease or found themselves in an accident they would regret not paying it…. We need to prioritize; your health is your wealth. I know it’s expensive but its worth paying in my opinion

Myself and my husband have health insurance with Aviva. We were going to cancel our cover last Jan., but as I have ongoing medical problems we decided to be extra smart with our outgoings and reduce some parts of the cover.
Two months ago my G.P. sent me to A.& E. as I had a severe pain in my side for almost two days and hadn’t eaten. I was asked at A. & E. reception if I had insurance and filled out the form but mistakenly said I was covered for semi-private room in a public hospital instead of private room in public hospital.
After ten hours lying on a trolley, in a hallway, in pain, (I was given only paracetamol) 2 x-rays instead of the ultrasound my G.P. sent me for, I was sent home with painkillers.
It took an extra 3 days for the pain to clear and I had an ultrasound at a different hospital in the mean-time which showed kidney stones. Thankfully they passed!

I wonder if my mistake on the insurance form had any bearing on my treatment? From previous experience insurance gets you in, treated and out with very high standards.

I canceled because they got out wording when i got eye surgery so i said ok whats the point of having this id be better off saving it myself by the month knowing it was there if i needed it.
Id paid a lot over the years and the one time i did try to use it i was deemed not medical neccesity even though i was told i would eventually go blind in the next 5 to 10 years in my right eye – whole thing is a joke

Jus way too expensive! You need to be either paid very well (whatever that is in these times! on 35k + with no other commitments I’d imagine for a single person) and therefore can afford it or be lucky enough to have it as a work benefit thing. I dropped it last year simply cos wage was dropping and was unsustainable with constantly increasing policy year on year

Health insurance is very important! Got a brilliant quote and independent advice from Irish Health Insurance.

I am on the Medical Card since I was left work in 2009. No checks, just a reminder letter sent out annually to renew. Barely used it since I got it; I’d hazard a guess at 3 times (and that includes a Physio Session this Friday). I still retain a VHI Card though.Plan B afaik but I haven’t looked at or used it in 5-6 Years. I would guess it’s a waste of money (I’ve often wondered why a User can’t transfer his/her Usage of Private Health Insurance to a Family Member who hasn’t got it for an operation etc. given that it won’t be used and it’s not like there’s a No Claims Bonus to be gained!). However it’s killing me financially to keep up the payments (€80……..I think a Month) I’d rather have it than not at all as I’ve heard/read too many horror stories re the Public Health Service being a Lottery to take the chance.

Health insurance, in our current health ‘service’ perpetuates inequality and the existence of a two tier health system. Discuss …

I really don’t see the point in another company setting up,as there’s enough competition who are already out there.I’m sure they’re not going to be lower priced.if they are,I’m sure they will hike up their price a few months down the line.

I had a serious illness a few years back and I am so glad that I kept up my health insurance. If I hadn’t had health insurance I would be blind in one eye now. Without our health we are nothing. It’s expensive but you never know when you might need it.

so is there any national health insurance in this country or not? why not? in the last countries i was living in they had a national health insurance, how about here? please can you tell me where to go and where’s the starting point if you wanna get it here? or is it just private companies ?cheers

I would sat it is necessary, but actually its not that expensive in comparison to other countries. Here in Germany it is mandatory to have health insurance, a self employed person/privately insured will pay about €3000pa & this can change depending on age, smoker, male/female. Employers must provide health insurance & then they will pay half & you pay the other half so in general about €150pm. However, on the upside for doctors visits you pay €10 for the first visit in 3 months & if you have to go back within this time/ to a hospital/ specialist you dont pay any more. (on the employer/public insurance) however for private you have to pay your bills & then claim them back later. I will say though, GP/hospital & specialist bills are also at least half the price – GP is generally around €30, for a repeat prescription you can call & this is usually €3, & all bills are itemised with the details with consultation charges for any tests/ etc – so you can see exactly what you are paying for.

having a medical card is not the same as having health insurance

I have both the medical card and insurance.