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Healthcare Bulletin: November 2005
New developments in Irish health insurance market

Following on from our bulletin last October there have been a number of significant changes in the Irish health insurance arena. These changes and announcements are as follows:

Improved benefits from BUPA Ireland

On 19 October 2005, BUPA Ireland announced that with effect from 1 October 2005 they have increased the maternity benefits across all of their plan range.

Maternity grant in aid allowances for admissions to private facilities effective from 1 October 2005 are as follows:

Plan Old allowance New allowance Essential €1,550 €1,600 Essential Plus €2,100 €2,600 HealthManager Starter €1,550 €2,600 HealthManager €2,200 €2,700 HealthManager Gold €2,300 €3,000

Child health care support benefit - BUPA Ireland have also introduced from 1 January 2006, this new benefit across their HealthManager range of plans that will pay up to €250 towards the cost of a range of post-operative treatments for children (under 18) who have been in hospital for 3 days or more. Treatments covered are:

• GP & Consultant fees
• Approved complementary therapists
• Physiotherapy fees
• Radiology & Pathology charges
• Child counselling
• Speech therapists
• Dieticians
• Occupational therapists

VHI new private 'walk in urgent care facility'

On 10 November 2005, VHI announced that in partnership with The Well a primary care medical company they were opening (officially on 24 November 2005) a new walk in urgent care facility at the Balally Luas Station, Dublin to be known as the VHI SwiftCare Clinic.

It is envisaged that the clinic will provide rapid assessment, treatment and advice for a range of minor injuries and illnesses that do not pose a serious danger to a persons' health but that it will not cater for serious medical emergencies such as serious chest pain, severe burns or loss of consciousness.

The initial cost of the first consultation will be €85 and VHI have confirmed that they will treat this as a GP visit so that depending on the level of cover a person has with VHI they will be able to offset some of this initial cost through their normal out-patient claims process.

Further treatment or tests after initial assessment will incur the following charges:

X-ray	€65
Blood test	€30 - €50
Stitches	€25 - €50
Plastering	€50
Physiotherapy	€50

VHI members will also be allowed to include the cost of physiotherapy (amount refundable is dependant on policy chosen) as part of their normal out-patient claims and GP surgical procedures will also be covered in line with VHI's Schedule of Benefits for Professional Fees.

Both BUPA Ireland and VIVAS Health have yet to officially confirm if they will also allow their members recoup some of these expenses but we would expect them to do so in line with their normal out-patient claims procedures.

VHI and The Well have also indicated their intention to open up further centres in the future.

VIVAS Health - 50 percent reduction for children - With effect from 1 January 2006, VIVAS Health have decided to reduce the cost of cover for children by 50 percent to run until the end of January 2006. This reduction will apply to new business during the month of January and existing business renewing during January 2006.

Group business travel insurance

On 18 November 2005, VHI also announced the introduction of a new annual business travel insurance policy designed for companies who have people engaged in frequent business travel.

VHI members will get a 40 percent discount but this cover is open to non VHI members unlike VHI’s 'MultiTrip' travel insurance plans. Premiums for this new business travel insurance are based on:

• How many business trips are taken per annum
• What is the average duration of trips
• What are the geographical zones
• What percentage of trips are taken by VHI members

The premiums are therefore based on the profile of a companies employees who travel on business abroad rather than on each specific individual.

Watson Wyatt Ireland's Healthcare consulting practice is uniquely placed to help you review your existing arrangements and provide independent advise as to how you might maximise your health insurance benefit offering and identify potential cost savings.

If you would like to find out more about the differences or to obtain independent comparisons between the different providers and plans available in the Irish health insurance market please contact Aongus Loughlin.