We are sitting down today with our health insurance champion Noeleen to talk about the importance of having private health insurance.
Interviewer: Can you tell us why you think people should invest in health insurance?
Noeleen: I honestly believe your health is your most valuable asset and protecting it could be the most important investment you make throughout your life. Investing in a good Health Insurance policy protects the health and financial future of you and your family. It gives you peace of mind and reassurance that you can avail of preventative care and hospital cover in the unfortunate event of sickness or injury.
Interviewer: What might preventative cover include?
Noeleen: The preventative cover available to you depends on the plan that you choose. It varies and can range from MRIs, CTs, PET Scans, radiology, vaccines, health screening, allergy testing, etc. Opting for preventative cover can benefit your long-term health.
Interviewer: How do you know what health plan is the right plan?
Noeleen: It depends on your circumstances and health needs at the time you are discussing them. An affordable health policy allows you the choice of both private or public hospitals and consultants. It gives you faster access to tests and some medical procedures and the level of cover you chose will determine the price of your health plan. You may want to include day-case routine procedures, in-patient cover in private or hi-tech hospitals and the same for outpatient procedures. You may decide that these are not a priority right now but it’s good to know that you can upgrade and avail of these benefits at any time in the future.
Interviewer: What are some of the benefits of private health care insurance?
Noeleen: There are some really great benefits such as the ability to claim back 50% or more on day-to-day outpatient medical expenses. Digital Doctor allows you to speak with a doctor virtually and they can issue a prescription if necessary, to your local pharmacist or refer you for further medical investigations. Night Nurse allows you to speak with a registered and experienced nurse who also can refer you to a doctor if necessary. One benefit that is really important is healthy minds, this is a service that gives you phone and virtual access to a fully trained counselor that will speak with you on any emotional or psychological concerns you might have. You can access Digital Doctor, night nurse and healthy minds via phone, chat, video, or face to face if required and it is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Interviewer: What would your advice be to someone considering taking out health insurance?
Noeleen: The earlier you start the better, investing in a health insurance policy early in life means that the insurance cover is priced at lower rates and waiting periods are served at a younger age. If you take out a private health insurance policy before your 35th birthday you will also avoid the LCR or Lifetime Community Rating loading. This basically means you will not have to pay a levy for every year you are over 35. Therefore, it will cost you less. It makes sense to invest in a private health insurance plan early in life because it ensures that adequate cover is available when you need it most.
Interviewer: Thank you Noeleen for your time and very valuable insights. We will be continuing our discussion on health Insurance in our next article and we will be expanding on the benefits and costs of health insurance.
Get in touch with Noeleen by scheduling a callback at a time that suits you. Alternatively, if you are in a hurry get a Quick Quote now.