Vhi waives a further portion of premium to health insurance Customers as 2020 Claims fall due to COVID 19

 

Average Family of two adults and two children will receive €200 back

7th December 2020 - Vhi today announced that it will again waive a portion of premium for health insurance policyholders as a result of lower than forecasted claims levels in 2020 arising from COVID 19. Earlier this year, Vhi took the decision to waive a portion of premium (an average of 50%), for all customers for a three-month period. This was in recognition of the restricted access customers had to private hospitals, due to an agreement between the Private Hospital Association and the HSE as part of the national effort to respond to Covid-19. When the waiver was announced in April, Vhi committed to return additional value to its customers if claims were lower than the level anticipated at that time because of COVID 19.

Following a review of claims activity, Vhi is now delivering on its promise. All private health insurance policyholders will benefit from a waiver of premium to the value of €75 for every adult insured and €25 for every child insured. The average family of two adults and two children will receive €200 back. Payments will commence the last week in January and will be paid to all active policyholders at that time. Policyholders will be paid directly into their bank accounts or receive a cheque.  No further action is required from customers.

John O’Dwyer, Chief Executive Officer Vhi said, “Vhi exists solely to meet the healthcare needs of its customers. The agreement period between the hospitals and the HSE concluded at the end of June and following a review of claims activity, we can see that claims were lower than anticipated.  As a result, Vhi is now giving further value back to customers.”                      

He continued: “While we continue to live with Covid-19, our experience is that customers are again availing of elective and critical care in private healthcare facilities. All providers, including Vhi’s own healthcare facilities have changed the way they operate and put new processes and procedures in place. We have supported health and safety measures to protect frontline healthcare staff and patients. This effort is ensuring that people are becoming increasingly comfortable attending appointments and going ahead with procedures that address any health concerns that they may have ignored over recent months.”  

Back in April, Vhi introduced a range of measures for customers who found themselves in difficult financial circumstances as a direct result of COVID-19 and delivered a range of supports for customers based on their specific individual circumstances.  Vhi established a specialist team of advisers to handle these cases and some customers have availed of the services.

Vhi also adapted its service offering to enable customers to access a range of digital health and wellbeing services during COVID-19, including urgent care, on-line GP, 24/7 Mental Health Supports, Physiotherapy…and more.

ENDS

 

Issued By

Brighid Smyth / Niamh Walker

brighid.smyth@vhi.ie  / niamh.walker@vhi.ie

086 827 0905 / 086 608 6764

 

 

Vhi_Press

07-Dec-2020