More health insurance hikes on way, but some cheaper plans being launched
However, Laya is cutting the premium on one of its corporate plans and launching new schemes, bucking a trend that has seen regular rises in the cost of all the providers' plans.
Irish Life Health is also introducing six new corporate plans from the start of next month.
Health insurance expert Dermot Goode, of Total Health Cover, said insurers were fearful the relentless price rises would force people to give up their cover, and were now attempting to address the affordability issue.
Earlier this month, VHI Healthcare increased the cost of one of its corporate plans, and in March it increased the cost of a string of plans. At the time, it was the third premium hike in less than a year.
Corporate plans must be made available to individuals and families if they want to buy one
Experts said those combined hikes could add as much as €500 to the annual cost of cover for a typical family. This is similar to last year's rises.
From the start of August, VHI will increase the cost of seven corporate plans that were not included in the increases announced in March.
The increases range from 2pc to 10pc, with the impact on a family of four to be between €75 and €506 a year for households renewing on the same plans.
Mr Goode said plans going up include PMI 4015 and PMI 4510. PMI 6310, which has only recently been launched, is also affected.
Corporate plans are marketed to companies that pay for the health cover of their staff, but under law must be made available to individuals and families if they want to buy one.
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They tend to be cheaper and have better benefits than plans targeted at families and individuals.
'As always, the advice is never to accept these changes without first contacting VHI to see if they have a similar alternative plan at a lower cost,' Mr Goode said.
'Tell the insurer your budget for the coming year and challenge them to find a similar plan that matches same.'
VHI said: 'The price changes are for a select number of corporate plans only. The timing of price changes for these plans differs from the general book of business. We announced an average price increase of 3pc across our plans from March 1.'
VHI is also launching a new corporate plan called PMI 6510 from August, priced at €1,544 per adult and €383 per child.
Insurers were taking specific steps to address the affordability issue in the market
Laya is decreasing the cost of one of its corporate schemes and also launching Core Connect, which Mr Goode said is a good semi-private corporate plan.
The cost will fall from €1,741 to €1,657 per adult, a 5pc reduction.
Laya is also launching a new plan called Inspire Assist, priced at €1,545 per adult and €356 per child.
Irish Life Health is introducing six new corporate plans from Friday, called Health Action 1 through to Health Action 6. Health Action 1 is €1,300 per adult and €336 for a child.
Mr Goode said insurers were taking specific steps to address the affordability issue in the market.
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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
More health insurance hikes on way, but some cheaper plans being launched
Price rises are coming almost monthly, prompting a slowdown in the numbers taking out health insurance. However, Laya is cutting the premium on one of its corporate plans and launching new schemes, bucking a trend that has seen regular rises in the cost of all the providers' plans. Irish Life Health is also introducing six new corporate plans from the start of next month. Health insurance expert Dermot Goode, of Total Health Cover, said insurers were fearful the relentless price rises would force people to give up their cover, and were now attempting to address the affordability issue. Earlier this month, VHI Healthcare increased the cost of one of its corporate plans, and in March it increased the cost of a string of plans. At the time, it was the third premium hike in less than a year. Corporate plans must be made available to individuals and families if they want to buy one Experts said those combined hikes could add as much as €500 to the annual cost of cover for a typical family. This is similar to last year's rises. From the start of August, VHI will increase the cost of seven corporate plans that were not included in the increases announced in March. The increases range from 2pc to 10pc, with the impact on a family of four to be between €75 and €506 a year for households renewing on the same plans. Mr Goode said plans going up include PMI 4015 and PMI 4510. PMI 6310, which has only recently been launched, is also affected. Corporate plans are marketed to companies that pay for the health cover of their staff, but under law must be made available to individuals and families if they want to buy one. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more They tend to be cheaper and have better benefits than plans targeted at families and individuals. 'As always, the advice is never to accept these changes without first contacting VHI to see if they have a similar alternative plan at a lower cost,' Mr Goode said. 'Tell the insurer your budget for the coming year and challenge them to find a similar plan that matches same.' VHI said: 'The price changes are for a select number of corporate plans only. The timing of price changes for these plans differs from the general book of business. We announced an average price increase of 3pc across our plans from March 1.' VHI is also launching a new corporate plan called PMI 6510 from August, priced at €1,544 per adult and €383 per child. Insurers were taking specific steps to address the affordability issue in the market Laya is decreasing the cost of one of its corporate schemes and also launching Core Connect, which Mr Goode said is a good semi-private corporate plan. The cost will fall from €1,741 to €1,657 per adult, a 5pc reduction. Laya is also launching a new plan called Inspire Assist, priced at €1,545 per adult and €356 per child. Irish Life Health is introducing six new corporate plans from Friday, called Health Action 1 through to Health Action 6. Health Action 1 is €1,300 per adult and €336 for a child. Mr Goode said insurers were taking specific steps to address the affordability issue in the market.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
More health hikes on way, but some cheaper plans being launched
Price rises are coming almost monthly, prompting a slowdown in the numbers taking out health insurance. However, Laya is cutting the premium on one of its corporate plans and launching new schemes, bucking a trend that has seen regular rises in the cost of all the providers' plans. Irish Life Health is also introducing six new corporate plans from the start of next month. Health insurance expert Dermot Goode, of Total Health Cover, said insurers were fearful the relentless price rises would force people to give up their cover, and were now attempting to address the affordability issue. Earlier this month, VHI Healthcare increased the cost of one of its corporate plans, and in March it increased the cost of a string of plans. At the time, it was the third premium hike in less than a year. Corporate plans must be made available to individuals and families if they want to buy one Experts said those combined hikes could add as much as €500 to the annual cost of cover for a typical family. This is similar to last year's rises. From the start of August, VHI will increase the cost of seven corporate plans that were not included in the increases announced in March. The increases range from 2pc to 10pc, with the impact on a family of four to be between €75 and €506 a year for households renewing on the same plans. Mr Goode said plans going up include PMI 4015 and PMI 4510. PMI 6310, which has only recently been launched, is also affected. Corporate plans are marketed to companies that pay for the health cover of their staff, but under law must be made available to individuals and families if they want to buy one. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more They tend to be cheaper and have better benefits than plans targeted at families and individuals. 'As always, the advice is never to accept these changes without first contacting VHI to see if they have a similar alternative plan at a lower cost,' Mr Goode said. 'Tell the insurer your budget for the coming year and challenge them to find a similar plan that matches same.' VHI said: 'The price changes are for a select number of corporate plans only. The timing of price changes for these plans differs from the general book of business. We announced an average price increase of 3pc across our plans from March 1.' VHI is also launching a new corporate plan called PMI 6510 from August, priced at €1,544 per adult and €383 per child. Insurers were taking specific steps to address the affordability issue in the market Laya is decreasing the cost of one of its corporate schemes and also launching Core Connect, which Mr Goode said is a good semi-private corporate plan. The cost will fall from €1,741 to €1,657 per adult, a 5pc reduction. Laya is also launching a new plan called Inspire Assist, priced at €1,545 per adult and €356 per child. Irish Life Health is introducing six new corporate plans from Friday, called Health Action 1 through to Health Action 6. Health Action 1 is €1,300 per adult and €336 for a child. Mr Goode said insurers were taking specific steps to address the affordability issue in the market. However, he added that consumers need to brace themselves for potentially more increases later in the year.
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Athletics star David Gillick encouraging anyone struggling with fitness or isolation to join free Parkrun coaching, after event became his ‘therapy'
Register at and access six-weeks of coaching to run – with walkers and volunteers also welcome Former Olympic sprinter David Gillick says his weekend Parkrun became part of his 'therapy' after he experienced a huge comedown when he retired from athletics. Now he wants anyone struggling with fitness or isolation to sign up for free Parkrun coaching to improve their physical and mental health. Gillick (42), from Ballinteer, south Dublin, experienced depression after he retired from elite athletics 11 years ago. But the former 400m runner – who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – won't forget the impact the VHI Parkrun at Dublin's Marlay Park had on him two years after he retired from athletics. Back then, he felt unable to run due to a mental block and an identity crisis. 'When I retired from elite athletics, I didn't want to run for two years,' said Gillick, who is a VHI ambassador. 'I went through counselling. I felt like I'd lost my identity because I'd been running since I was seven. It was part of me.' The athlete is today helping to launch Your Happy Pace, a VHI initiative to get as many people as possible participating in Parkruns from this September. Gillick pushed himself to go to Parkrun at Marlay Park, after repeatedly battling with himself about whether it was something he should do. The experience was transformative. 'It became like part of my therapy,' Gillick said. The release of endorphins was amazing and I felt good about myself again 'I was in Marlay Park, where my athletics club was. I had the label 'I'm an Olympian, that I can do every event great'. 'But it wasn't the case. After the first one, I died. I thought I could stay with the others but I couldn't. I ran a 5k in probably 25 minutes. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I expected more but even after feeling I'd not done enough, I realised I was out in the air, I was with my wife Charlotte, I was among people and I was already starting to feel better. "We grabbed a coffee and I was set up for the day. The release of endorphins was amazing and I felt good about myself again. 'I wanted to better myself and I was eating and sleeping again. It was a massive benefit to me.' Gillick is set to release his memoir, The Race, in October, which will track his entire career and the world of Irish athletics. But right now, he's launching free places available for a six-week couch-to-Parkrun programme in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, and Donegal. This is part of his life after athletics – and he says he's keen to help make society a better place. The programme, beginning on September 1, will give participants a training plan supplemented by weekly in-person training with a qualified coach at one of six selected parkrun locations nationwide. Gillick says he understands some people feel out of place when it comes to running. But he assured interested applicants, 'there will be someone there to support you every step of the way'. There's coaches on board, webinars and WhatsApp groups, to help runners. And the public don't have to run, they can walk or volunteer. The initiative is about 'building community, helping physical and mental health and ending isolation'. There'll be people with you every step 'This is about physical and mental health. It's not to put pressure on people to see how fast they run. This is geared towards people who were never involved in parkrun. 'Maybe you might be a bit intimidated, you might not want to go and feel maybe you'll be isolated and left behind. 'That won't be the case. There'll be people with you every step. We want to target people who aren't Parkrunners. 'We want people to embrace it. Maybe you'll ease your way into a jog, who knows.' Gillick still attends the Marlay Park Parkruns and he's witnessed young people increasingly coming to the events. But there's older people too, sometimes volunteering. The events help provide opportunities for people to meet others and form friendships. 'This type of coaching would cost so much if you paid for it, so it's just great,' he said. 'For me, it's about creating an environment we want to live in, where we want our kids to grow up in. An environment where there's opportunities and fun, a chance for people to be happier and take those initiatives because I've gone through it – feelings of isolation and feeling lost. 'And I know the impact running had on my life and what it can do for others, too. We can all play our part in making life better. And tell your friends and family about this too.' Register at There are up to 50 places available at each of the following Parkrun locations, with applicants notified in advance. The locations are: Poolbeg Parkrun, Ringsend, south Dublin; UCG Parkrun, Co Galway; Ballincollig Parkrun, Co Cork; Mungret Parkrun, Co Limerick; Kilkenny Parkrun, Castle Park, Co Kilkenny; Letterkenny Parkrun, Co Donegal.
