Sir, – While Chris Coggins (Letters, March 30th) has had a positive experience with a broker in sorting out his health-insurance renewal, Michael Keegan (Letters, March 31st) makes the point that such an approach is not without its own costs.
The fundamental point is that there is a bewildering complexity of plans on the market. Furthermore, additional complexity exists within individual plans. It should not be beyond the average customer to make an informed choice on the best option for them after a little homework, but unfortunately it is.
Even using the Health Insurance Authority comparison tool, the variety of options – both between and within plans – is enough to melt your head. For older customers especially, trying to choose between so many options regarding cancer care, orthopaedic procedures, cardiac procedures and diagnostic imaging scans is not a straightforward decision. In these circumstances, it is easy to end up with inadequate or unsuitable cover.
One suspects the companies are trying to confuse customers so that they will simply renew their existing cover out of frustration. This leads to people paying more than they should, as we are regularly told by your Pricewatch column.
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It doesn’t have to be this way. If the health insurance market can be regulated to include something as significant as community rating, surely it can be regulated to also ensure the availability of clear, simple-to-understand plans. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN KELLEHER,
Ballinteer,
Dublin.
