The VHI's website claims to have been the first in Ireland to offer customised healthcare information to the Irish consumer. Naturally, it contains details of VHI health services and products, but, as a site that anyone can access, it benefits a lot more people than just those who have VHI coverage.

The site provides access to a comprehensive database of health information covering conditions, treatments, preventative medicine, and healthy living advice relevant to all life stages - going beyond those conditions and treatments currently covered by VHI.

Among the many features is one that enables you to build your own health site and to receive personalised weekly newsletters tailored to your particular health interests and concerns.

If you are just accessing the site for basic information about VHI you can get an instant online quotation and application form or request an information pack to be sent to you. There are also details of the various VHI packages and an overview of income tax relief that comes with being a member.

For businesses of six or more people there is information on group health schemes. There is also information provided for people and companies abroad who are considering locating a business in Ireland.

The Frequently Asked Questions section is comprehensive, but it can be just as difficult to figure out what it's actually saying as it is on the paper version of these questions.

The internal search engine is reasonably quick, but is not effective enough. It could not find a condition I requested, even though I later found it just by clicking on the relevant letter.

The A-Z health section can be very slow to click into an article, and sometimes returns a blank page, but once you do have the information it is excellent. There are also sections on fitness and nutrition, lifestyle, women's, men's, senior's and children's health, and pregnancy and baby care. There is also a good alternative health section.