Families could save €400 on health insurance premiums

FAMILIES could save up to €400 on their health insurance premiums, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) has said.
It has started an online campaign to alert people to the savings they could make. It claims the majority of private health insurance customers are paying too much.

A new website – www.hia.ie – contains a price comparison tool for a range of plans from all health insurers.
HIA chief executive, Liam Sloyan, said many people didn’t realise health insurers had an array of products at similar prices providing similar levels of cover.
“Private health insurers must allow all consumers access to any of their plans. For instance, very often plans aimed at companies offer insurance cover at lower prices than to those aimed at individuals or families. What consumers don’t realise is that the health insurance provider must also offer these group plans to individuals if requested and the price difference cannot exceed 10 per cent,” he said.