VHI reduces the cost of private maternity cover

WHILE THE VHI may be pushing up the cost of its health insurance policies, it is making the cost of private maternity care cheaper.

From this month, it will increase the grant it offers patients of Ireland’s only private maternity hospital, Mount Carmel, by up to 25 per cent, thereby enabling its members to get one night of semi-private care at no extra cost.

Up until now, VHI members received a grant of up to €3,500 towards the cost of their care, but this left a significant short-fall on the total cost.

As of the start of this month, however, the maternity benefit payable for members of VHI Plan B (Parents Kids), Plan B Option, Plan B Excess, and Family Plan Plus (Level 1 2), will increase by between 15 and 25 per cent to €4,000.

This is in line with the benefit offered by other insurers, as Aviva offers a grant of €4,000 under its Level 2 Everyday and Hospital plans, while Quinn Healthcare recently increased its allowance to the same figure for members of its Essential Plus plan.

The change means that VHI members will now be entitled to one night of semi-private care at the hospital at no extra cost, but a charge of €790 will be levied for two nights semi-private, or €1,390 for three nights.

For private patients, a one-night stay will cost €800, rising to €1,990 for three nights. Tax relief, at the standard rate of 20 per cent, can be used to offset these expenses.

However, prospective patients should note that in addition to the aforementioned hospital charges, there are other costs at the hospital which are eligible for only a small rebate from the insurer.

For example, consultant fees range from €3,000 to €3,800 at Mount Carmel, and the VHI has not increased its contribution towards these charges. So, a member of Plan B Option will be entitled to claim back only €385 (which is also subject to an outpatient excess), still leaving a significant shortfall therefore on total costs.