Health insurance premiums have been on the up for many years, so the recent announcement that VHI is cutting some health insurance premiums is welcome news for consumers.

However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shop around. You could still get an even better rate for your bank account, says Dermot Goode from www.totalhealthcover.ie.

Dermot is one of Ireland’s best health insurance consultants and a speaker at this year’s Women & Agriculture conference.

Speaking to Irish Country Living, he says: “Reductions from health insurance companies are always welcome, especially when people are expecting increases and the peak renewal period is approaching.

“Those on the old Plan D (now Health Plus Premium) will see a better reduction of 5% per adult. That equates to a saving of €173 per adult. This plan is designed to cover the high-tech hospitals, which are Blackrock Clinic and Mater Private.

“On plans such as the old Plan B Options (Health Plus Extra) and the old Plan C (Health Plus Choice), the excesses for outpatient benefits will be reducing to approximately €100 per adult, from the present level of €300 and €200 per adult. They will also be increasing some of the allowances for eligible outpatient expenses, increasing the probability of a refund for members.

“The 7% reduction in young adult rates and 12% on child rates will be welcome news for hard-pressed families and some of VHI’s most competitive corporate plans will also see a slight reduction in rates, eg PMI 4115 will drop by over 2% to €1,317 per adult and the Company Plan Plus Level 1.3 by €57 per adult, or 5% to €1,162 per adult.”

While all reductions are welcomed, some aren’t as good as others.

“Those on the old Plan B Options (Health Plus Extra) and the old Plan C (Health Plus Choice) will see minor reductions of approximately €30-€40 per adult.This could bring a person’s premium from about €2,095 to €2,065. However, what if I was to tell you that you could get a plan that was just as good at €1,500? That’s where the real savings can be made. It’s important for consumers to not just accept the reductions, sit back and let their cover roll over for another year. There could be even more savings to be made.

“Overall, this is a welcome and surprising development, which bucks the usual trend of price increases in the run up to the peak renewal period. While it’s too soon to tell what affect this will have on the market overall, it will be interesting to monitor the reaction from the competition.”

Women and Ag

The Women & Agriculture Conference, in association with FBD Insurance and Sherry FitzGerald, takes places in the Mount Wolseley Hotel on 25 and 26 October. Dermot Goode will be taking to the stage to help our audience get the best deal on their health insurance.

“For the best practical advice at the conference, I would encourage all delegates to bring details of their plan and their renewal date. If you know exactly what plan you are on, you will get a lot more out of the talk.

“Throughout the talk, I want to show people if they are on the right plan or not, and how to maximise their savings. Four out of five people are on the wrong health insurance plan, and two out of those five are on the outdated legacy plans. They could potentially save between €500 and €1,000 by switching to a better plan for them. I want to help people use their health insurance properly.” CL

Georgina Campbell announces the best of the best for consumers

Awards season is certainly in full swing. While last week we featured the winners of the Blás na hEireann awards, highlighting the best of Irish producers, this week it’s all about the best eateries serving up quality produce.

Georgina Campbell’s independent guides are Ireland’s longest-running food and hospitality awards. Keen foodies can find the full list of the awards on www.ireland-guide.com, but we’ve highlighted some of our top picks of businesses in rural Ireland that have a quality offering for consumers.

Georgina Campbell ‘Hospitality Hero’ Award 2018: James and Beryl Kearney and Gary O’Hanlon, Viewmount House, Longford, Co Longford – If you haven’t enjoyed a dining experience at Viewmout House in Longford, then a trip there is called for. Nestled among beautiful gardens and with an ambience that is both attentive but relaxed, we’re with Georgina on awarding the team this top award. In 2008, James and Beryl Kearney opened VM Restaurant with head chef Gary O’Hanlon, who many know from The Restaurant. Now not only is this Georgian House a special place to stay, but it has a menu that is dedicated to the locality, but with a sophisticated twist that shows real attention to detail.

Outstanding Guest Experience: Quinlan & Cooke Boutique Townhouse and Seafood Restaurant, Caherciveen, Co Kerry – There is nothing better than wandering into a small Irish village, and finding a place where you can relax beside a fire and enjoy some quality Irish ingredients. That’s what you’ll find in Caherciveen, where Kate and Andrew Cooke’s atmospheric bar, restaurant and rooms abounds with character and a menu that has a special love affair with the sea. This restaurant won the award for outstanding guest experience for serving ultra-fresh local fish and seafood supplied by the family company,

Street Food Award 2018, Food Depot, Gourmet Street Kitchen, Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Co Cork – Street food is an international trend that has hit the Irish shores, and you would expect the top winners of this award to be within the bustling capital, but Gourmet Street Kitchen in Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry is the real winner. Dishes may be ethnically diverse, such as O’Neill’s three-meat chilli or a veggie delight of grilled halloumi Buddha bowls, but all are based on the best of seasonal local produce. It’s the place for weekday lunches at the West Cork Business Technology Park. On Sundays you’ll find them nearer home, beside the beach at Courtmacsherry.