To help find the best plan that fits your medical and financial needs, we ask you some simple questions. In order to get the most from this process, please think about some of the following:

·         How many people do you want insured on the policy?

·         Do you have any specific medical concerns, family history or even minor ailments that you would like cover for?

·         Have you had previous hospital visits or regular GP, Consultant or Physio costs?

·         Do you or any of the family play sports or have hobbies that might be relevant when considering health insurance cover?

·         Are there specific hospitals you must have in your plan?

·         You will be presented with various benefits, that you can choose as suitable or not suitable for your needs.

One of the most asked questions is, are you covered if you have a pre-existing condition. If you have already served your new member waiting periods, you will be covered immediately for any pre-existing conditions. However, if you buy a policy with higher benefits, you may have to serve upgrade waiting periods.

See our terms and conditions for more

We will then display or talk you through the best options that meet your needs, including the cost. We will recommend a suitable plan, provide you with a quote and you can review the Table of Benefits to ensure that you are happy that it covers the benefits you require.

All plans are included in the search, including both corporate and consumer plans. 

There is some other important information that you need to be aware of:

·         Waiting Periods and Upgrade Rule: When switching to Vhi, we want to ensure all your previously earned waiting periods are transferred over.  

If you have already served your new member waiting periods, you will be covered immediately for any pre-existing conditions.  However, if you choose a plan with higher benefits, upgrade waiting periods may apply. Once we have your previous policy /membership number or confirmation of cover letter from your previous insurer, any fulfilled waiting periods transfer to Vhi. 

·         Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) credits:  If relevant, any Lifetime Community Rating credits will be carried from insurer to insurer.

·         Policy Number: Your new policy number will be sent to you by SMS.

·         Documentation:  You will receive your policy documents online or by post, based on your preference.

You can cancel your policy by phone, email or post, within your renewal period.  

To avoid any payments being taken from your account, cancel in advance of your renewal date, as many policies are set up to renew automatically. Make sure that your cancellation date aligns with the start date of your new policy to avoid any gap in cover. Health insurance policies are 12 month contracts.

All insurers provide a 14 day cooling off period at renewal. During these 14 days, you can cancel and get a full refund.  No claims will be paid for these 14 days. 

·         Download the Vhi App. This will give you details of your policy and key benefits.

·         Understand your Table of Benefits – what is this? The Table of Benefits outlines what benefits you are covered for under your plan. This document comes with your policy and is a very handy reference guide.

·         Learn how to use our online Snap and Send facility, to quickly and easily claim for everyday expenses.

·         Cover Check in our App allows you to check your cover for various treatments and procedures in your own time.

We are always happy to help with any questions you might have.  Feel free to email us on info@vhi.ie or call us today on 056 444 4444.