VHI will launch a new plan; PMI 38 14 (€1,550 per adult, €238.08 per student, €237.04 per child 1-3) on 22 August 2014.

This plan will provide cover for a private room in a public hospital and a semi-private room in a private hospital with no private hospital inpatient excess. There is also full cover for day case, listed cardiac and listed special procedures in The Blackrock Clinic, the Mater Private and the Beacon Clinic private hospitals. There is 80% cover for certain orthopaedic procedures in private hospitals.

Approved sports injury programmes are covered in the Santry Sports Surgery Clinic with an excess of €75 per claim. Ask Vhi for further details.

There is no cover in the Bons Secours Cork, Galway or Tralee.

There is maternity accomodation cover of up to 3 nights in a public hospital and a home birth benefit of €3,600 provided.

The plan has significant outpatient benefits such as a €40 refund for 12 visits for the cost of GP and physiotherapist visits with a €1 outpatient excess per year.

This plan is available to all new and renewing customers from this date.

The above information was sourced with the permission of the Health Insurance Authority from their website www.hia.ie. Our thanks to them for their assistance.