Choosing health insurance for your family is a big decision, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of plans, providers and add-ons on offer. Whether you’re insuring your family for the first time or reviewing your current cover, a bit of knowledge can help you find a plan that suits your family’s needs — and possibly save you money too.
Here are 8 practical tips to help you choose the right health insurance for your family.
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Choosing Health Insurance For Families
#1. Be Aware of New Customer Waiting Periods
Waiting periods are one of the first things to check when you sign up for a new health insurance plan, or when you upgrade your current plan to include extra benefits. Waiting periods can vary by plan and provider, so it’s worth comparing them carefully before you enrol. In Ireland, national standards set the maximum waiting periods that health insurance providers are legally allowed to apply.
Waiting periods matter most for couples planning to have children. In Ireland, the typical new customer waiting period for maternity cover is 52 weeks, so check the current figure with your provider before you decide. If you want semi-private or private maternity care, plan ahead and enrol in your chosen plan well in advance.
#2. Take Advantage Of Kids’ Offers
Health insurance providers sometimes run offers for children, such as free cover for additional children once you’ve paid for your first child’s policy. It’s worth asking your provider directly whether any family or kids’ offers currently apply, as these can make a real difference to your overall premium.
#3. It’s OK to Split Your Family’s Cover
Not every member of your family needs the same level of cover. Someone with an ongoing health condition might need a higher level of cover than the rest of the family, for example.
It’s also worth knowing that some private hospitals do not typically treat very young children, so paying for the same high-tech private hospital cover for a toddler as for an older family member may not make sense.
Talk to your health insurance provider about subscribing different family members to different levels of cover, all under the same overall policy.
#4. Ask for the Young Adult Rate if Appropriate
Younger, healthier people generally make fewer health insurance claims than older adults. If you have young adults aged 18–25 in your household — whether students or working — ask whether a discounted young adult rate applies. There’s no reason to pay the full adult rate if a lower rate is available.
#5. Consider Accepting Excesses to Lower Your Upfront Premiums
If your family is generally healthy, it may be worth accepting an excess on your private hospital inpatient cover in exchange for a lower monthly premium.
An excess means you pay some costs out of pocket if you ever need private hospital care, but your day-to-day premium stays lower. Excesses typically only apply when private hospital admission is needed, so check the specific terms with your provider before deciding.
#6. Remember That Everyone Is Eligible for All Plans
In Ireland, health insurance providers are legally required to make all of their plans available to everyone, as set out by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA). This means you don’t need to work for a particular company to access a corporate-style plan — these are sometimes better value than standard consumer plans, so it’s worth comparing them too.
This isn’t the case everywhere. In Australia, for example, some health insurance plans are restricted to particular groups, such as employees of a specific organisation or occupation. If you’re insuring your family outside Ireland, check whether similar restrictions apply where you live, and compare both open membership plans and any occupation-linked options available to you.
#7. Comparison Shop for Insurance Using Comparison Tools
In Ireland, the HIA website has a comparison tool that makes it easier to compare the many health insurance plans currently on the market. It’s a good starting point before you speak to any individual provider.
#8. Call for Clarification
Often, the best way to find the most cost-effective plan for your family is simply to call providers directly and ask specific questions about your circumstances. Calls to health insurance providers are typically recorded, so you can expect clear, accurate answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we take out health insurance before having a baby?
If you want semi-private or private maternity care, it’s best to enrol well ahead of time, since maternity cover usually has a longer new-customer waiting period than other benefits. Confirm the current waiting period with your provider before you plan around it.
Can family members be on different levels of cover under one policy?
Yes. Many providers allow you to put different family members on different levels of cover while keeping everyone under a single family policy — useful if one family member needs more cover than the others.
Do young adults get a discount on health insurance?
Many providers offer a reduced rate for young adults, typically aged 18–25, whether they’re studying or working. It’s worth asking your provider directly whether this applies to your policy.
Are corporate health insurance plans only available to employees of that company?
In Ireland, no — providers must make all their plans available to everyone by law. Outside Ireland, rules can differ, so check locally.
Where can I compare health insurance plans in Ireland?
The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) website has a comparison tool that lets you compare plans currently available on the Irish market.
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- How to Manage Family Finances Without the Stress
Looking for more practical family life advice? Browse our family life section for more tips like these, or save this article to come back to when you’re ready to compare plans.
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Have these tips helped you choose health insurance for your family? Or do you have a tip of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
