In Ireland, Private Health Insurance can offer benefits such as: shorter wait times for procedures, quicker access to diagnostics, specialists, and elective surgeries. Financial Protection should unexpected health issues arise. Plus greater comfort with the use of private rooms and facilities.

✝This is based on a comparison to the public system waiting lists that can be found here: https://www.ntpf.ie/waiting-list-data/open-data/.

Each Insurer offers a broad range of plans and benefits, with some strong in some areas than others. This can be confusing. The good news is Cornmarket compares all 4 insurance providers, including Level Health. With our award-winning Health Insurance Comparison Service, honored as an All-Ireland Business Federation Business All Star, we make sure you find the right fit for you and your family.

Yes, there is a service fee of €60 for an individual and €72 for a family for the health insurance comparison service (review of hundreds of plans across all 4 insurers, Irish Life Health, Laya, VHI and Level Health).

Our Health Insurance experts receive regular training on industry updates and specialise in ensuring you’re on the right plan for your needs. We look forward to helping you.

Health Insurance premiums are subject to tax relief at source (TRS). Additional medical expenses like GP/consultant fees and non-routine dental may qualify for 20% relief through Revenue’s Med 1 process. ✝For more details visit revenue at https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/health-and-age/health-expenses/index.aspx.

Yes, health insurance premiums in Ireland have seen increases across all major providers, including Irish Life Health, Laya Healthcare, Level Health and Vhi.* In some cases, these increases have been in the double-digit percentage range. Factors contributing to these hikes include: -Rising healthcare costs and medical inflation -Increased volume of claims -Advances in medical treatments

Many policyholders are still overpaying for outdated or unsuitable plans. By reviewing your cover annually with Cornmarket, you could save significantly without losing key benefits.

Cornmarket compares over 320 plans across every Irish health insurer, helping you beat price hikes and find the best value for your needs. On average families save over €700 through Cornmarket.**

Compare plans from all four major providers in the market with our health insurance quote tool.

*Source: Cornmarket, based on 4DHealth 2 Plan (Irish Life Health), Essential Health 300 Plan (Laya), EnhancedCare 250 Plan (Vhi), July 2023-July 2024.

**Based on 20,680 Cornmarket customers who reviewed & switched their cover between October 2023 & October 2024. Source, Cornmarket November 2024.

Irish Life Health DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Laya Healthcare Limited, trading as Laya Healthcare and Laya Life, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Vhi Healthcare DAC trading as Vhi Healthcare is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Level Health Limited, trading as Level Health, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Health insurance products provided by Level Health Limited are underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC.

Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, trading as Aviva, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Cornmarket Group Financial Services Ltd. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Some policies provide limited coverage for emergency dental work or contribute to dental visits and consultations.

Some policies cover orthodontic treatment like braces, but the extent of coverage can vary significantly. It's important to check the specific details of your policy to see if it includes orthodontic benefits and what the limitations might be.

Laser eye surgery is generally not covered by standard health insurance because it is classified as an elective or non-essential procedure.

However, some advanced or corporate plans may offer limited contributions toward treatment. So it is worth engaging with a broker to find the right cover.

Health insurance plans typically do not cover standard gym memberships. However, some premium or corporate health insurance plans may offer wellness benefits, which can include partial reimbursement for fitness-related expenses such as: -Gym memberships -Fitness classes -Health screenings -Wellness programs These benefits vary by provider and plan. If you're interested in this type of cover, Cornmarket can help you compare plans that include wellness incentives tailored to your lifestyle. Get a quote now to find the best value coverage for your needs.

Introduced on May 1st 2015, Lifetime Community Rating encourages younger people to buy health cover – to reduce the overall cost of premiums for everyone. If you’re 35+, and did not take out health insurance, a loading of 2% is added for per year, for each year above 35.

For example a 40 year old pays an extra 12% compared to someone who took out health insurance before 35.

You may save on premiums by choosing a higher excess, but consider your health needs before doing so.

You should only choose a higher excess for a lower premium if you are unlikely to use hospital services often.

If you have an underlying (pre-existing) medical condition, be careful when taking on a higher excess as you'll be more likely to use these services.

All four health insurance providers in Ireland let you pay by Direct Debit – Irish Life Health, VHI Healthcare, Laya Healthcare and Level Health. Paying by Direct Debit for policies with Irish Life Health, Level Health or VHI Healthcare does not incur a surcharge. Laya Healthcare charge a 3% surcharge on top of your premium when paying by Direct Debit. You can avoid this by paying annually by card or bank transfer.

✝For more information click here.

Day-to-day cover lets you claim money back on everyday expenses, such as visits to the GP, physiotherapist, dentist, alternative practitioners, plus consultant and A&E visits.

Before you take out cover, you should calculate the cost of these types of visits, against the overall cost of the plan. A good rule of thumb is, if you visit any of the above more than 5 or 6 times a year, it’s cost-effective to have this covered under your plan.

People’s needs differ according to age. So split cover places family members on different plans, but under the same policy. Each person insured should have cover focused on their specific needs. Having all family members insured on the same plan may be unnecessary and more costly. 'Splitting' cover can help to reduce your costs by only covering family members for what is relevant to their needs.

Yes, you can switch at any time, but to avoid penalties, it’s best to do so at renewal or ensure continuity of cover. Cornmarket can help manage the process.

Missed payments may lead to cancellation after a grace period. Always contact your provider or Cornmarket quickly to avoid lapses.

Most family policies include children up to age 18 (or 23 in full-time education). Split cover can ensure appropriate plans by age group.

You can save money by reviewing your plan each year, increasing your excess, splitting cover across family members, or removing unnecessary benefits. Cornmarket’s comparison service helps identify better value options across all insurers — including corporate plans not generally promoted to the public.

Every family has different needs — for example, adults may want private room cover, while children may need GP or consultant visits covered. Cornmarket can help you ‘split’ family members onto different plans under one policy to reduce cost while maintaining relevant benefits.

Yes. With split cover, each family member can be on a different plan within the same policy or you could split family members across Insurers. This ensures you’re not overpaying for benefits someone doesn’t need — and it’s one of the easiest ways to save money on family Health Insurance.

Yes. Through Cornmarket, you may access corporate plans — including those with higher cover at better value. These plans are often not advertised by insurers directly to the public but are available through regulated intermediaries like Cornmarket.

Yes. Children are often covered at reduced rates, and young adults apply up to age 25 . Some family policies let you cover up to 3 or more children for the price of 1, provide a specified percentage discount for each child or waive premiums for children under 3 years of age when taking out the policy. Cornmarket will help you get the best deal for your family.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows Irish residents to access public healthcare services in other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland either free of charge or at a reduced cost. It is intended for temporary stays, such as holidays, short-term work assignments, or study abroad. The EHIC covers necessary medical treatment due to illness or accident during your stay, but it does not cover private healthcare or planned medical procedures. You can apply for an EHIC online, by post, or in person through the HSE. Each family member needs their own card, and the application is free of charge. Apply here.

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