Irish life health has a clear mission: to help you stay healthy and well in body and mind. With a range of innovative benefits and services, we want to keep you on your journey to a healthier lifestyle.
In order to do this, we are committed to providing real value. Our plans provide the right level of cover for your specific needs and lifestyle, at a great price.
Health insurance
Health insurance in Ireland is a critical part of your preparations for living in Ireland. Having it can save you time and money by reducing your wait times for medical treatment, or by providing access to facilities that are more comfortable and private.
While nearly 40% of the population receives free healthcare under the so-called Irish Medical Card, other people must pay for their care. This can add up, especially if you have several appointments each month or need specialised care in a high-tech hospital.
There are many types of health insurance available, from basic cover to comprehensive plans with benefits covering a range of medical treatments. It’s important to understand the difference between them and choose the right one for your individual needs.
Long-term care insurance
It’s not unusual for people to need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or eating later in life. Whether it’s at home, in a nursing home or in some other facility, long-term care insurance can help pay for these services.
It can be a daunting task to choose the right policy for your needs, but many experts recommend starting early. Buying a policy as you’re healthy is usually less expensive than waiting until a medical crisis hits.
However, it’s important to know that the market for long-term care insurance has changed dramatically in recent years. As a result, the premiums you’ll pay will probably be higher than you expected.
Some of the larger insurers have pulled out of the market and others, such as Genworth Financial, have gone to state regulators seeking permission to hike their premiums by as much as 90 percent. These increases are based on their risk of paying claims.
Credit for periods abroad
One of the most popular and gratifying experiences of moving abroad is being able to enjoy the benefits of your local health insurer. Irish Life Health offers many policy options to suit your specific needs and budget, from cover for a single trip overseas or for a year long period abroad, to a more comprehensive multi-trip option.
Credit for periods abroad in Ireland is a relatively new phenomenon, but it can be a significant advantage to the lucky few who take out insurance when they leave. For example, if you take out a policy within nine months of returning home, age-related loadings will be a thing of the past. The best part is that your old insurance provider will be able to offer a cheaper premium as they will no longer have to worry about your claims history. This means that you could get a brand-new policy for less than the cost of an old one!
Tax relief
If you pay medical insurance premiums directly to an insurer, such as Irish Life Health, you can get tax relief. This is called Tax Relief at Source (TRS) and can reduce the cost of your policy.
TRS is granted at 20% of the cost, up to a maximum credit of EUR1,000 per adult and EUR500 per child.
You can claim back tax on medical expenses, such as hospital treatment or nursing home care. This can be done through the Revenue myAccount receipts tracker service, where you can store your medical receipts online and then claim tax relief at source in your next payroll payment.
Irish Life has announced that it is increasing the price of its private health insurance plans from January 1. This increase will vary across all plans. The company said it is applying the increase as a result of “very substantial inflation” in hospital procedure prices that have recently emerged.