Irish Health Insurance Changes from 1 May 2026: What You Need to Know

28 April 2026

Several Irish health insurance plans are changing from 1 May 2026, with new options and updated benefits. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes and what they mean for you.

Key Changes to Irish Health Insurance Plans from 1 May 2026

From 1 May 2026, several health insurance providers in Ireland are introducing new plans and updating existing ones. These changes will affect your cover, excesses, and monthly costs. Below, we outline the key updates for VHI and Laya, introduce a new plan from Irish Life, and explain what these changes mean for you.

Updated Plans: VHI and Laya

Two existing plans from VHI and Laya are seeing changes to their monthly costs and benefits.

VHI – PMI 06 10

This VHI plan is seeing a slight price decrease, with the annual cost falling from €1818.84 to €1798.68. There is also a minor change to the plan's benefits with the introduction of Foetal screening up to 100 euro per annum.

Laya – Connect Simplicity

The Laya Connect Simplicity plan has a 10% increase in price, with the annual cost rising from €1854.12 to €2039.52. Major benefit reductions are also being introduced:

Everyday Excess:The annual outpatient excess for has increased from €1 to €10. This is a very minor change.
Increased Shortfall Percentages: However, the percentage shortfall for orthopaedic and ophthalmic procedures in both private and Hi-Tech hospitals has doubled from 20% to 40%.

What this means for you: The higher monthly premium, combined with the doubling of shortfall percentages, will result in higher overall costs for members, particularly if you need orthopaedic or ophthalmic care. It is important to review if this plan still offers value for your healthcare needs. There are plans available with 20% or lower orthopaedic or ophthalmic shortfalls if this is important to you.

New Plan: Irish Life – HealthAction Plus

Irish Life is launching a new plan, HealthAction Plus (Plan #378), with a annual cost of €1734.24. This plan offers comprehensive cover with a focus on everyday health. It is very similar to the existing HealthAction 3 plan.

Key features of the Irish Life HealthAction Plus plan include:

Full Hospital Cover: 100% cover for semi-private and private rooms in public and private hospitals (subject to an excess of €150 per claim).
Hi-Tech Hospital Cover: 45% cover for rooms in Hi-Tech hospitals, with a €150 excess per claim.
Specialist Procedure Cover: The plan covers advanced cardiac, ophthalmic, orthopaedic, and fertility & pregnancy procedures.
Everyday Health Cover: Includes cover for everyday healthcare with a €1 excess and a €2,000 annual limit.
Specific Shortfalls: For orthopaedic procedures, a shortfall of €4,000 applies in private and Hi-Tech hospitals. For ophthalmic procedures, a shortfall of €500 applies in the same settings.

This new plan provides a solid mix of hospital and everyday cover, making it an option for those seeking comprehensive health insurance.

Compare Your Options at MedPlan.ie