Key Health Insurance Changes from 1 July 2026 You Need to Know

What's Changing in Irish Health Insurance on 1 July 2026?

A number of popular plans from VHI, Laya, and Level Health will see changes effective from 1 July 2026. These updates range from significant benefit adjustments to premium price changes. Understanding these changes is key to ensuring your plan still meets your needs.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening.

VHI Plan Updates

VHI has updated a wide range of its plans, with the most significant change being the removal of the annual cap on out-patient benefits for several popular day-to-day plans.

• Plans with Out-Patient Limit Removed: For the following plans, the annual maximum out-patient limit has been reduced to €0, meaning there is now no cap on what you can claim for eligible out-patient expenses like GP visits and consultant fees:
  • FirstCare 250 Day-to-Day (Plan #30)
  • FirstCare 500 Day-to-Day (Plan #31)
  • FirstCare Extra 150 Day-to-Day (Plan #32)
  • Nurses' Plan Select (Plan #33)
  • One Plan Family (Plan #35)
  • PMI 44 16 (Plan #63)
  • PublicPlus Care Day-to-Day (Plan #88)
  • Teachers' Plan Select (Plan #89)
• PMI 01 10 Price Decrease: The monthly cost for PMI 01 10 (Plan #37) is reducing slightly, from €205.67 to €204.64. Benefits remain unchanged.

Laya Plan Updates

Laya is implementing price increases across several of its Flex plans, while one plan sees both a price rise and benefit changes.

• 360 Care Select (Plan #91): This plan is increasing in price from €198.41 to €213.50 per month. Additionally, the shortfall percentage for orthopaedic and ophthalmic treatments is doubling from 20% to 40%. This means significant higher cost for you if you need any orthopaedic and ophthalmic procedures.
• Price-Only Increases: The monthly premiums for the following plans increased in April 2026 and are now increasing again, but their benefits remain the same:
  • Flex 125 Choice (Plan #155): €379.81 → €391.21
  • Flex 125 Explore (Plan #156): €295.40 → €304.27
  • Flex 125 Plus (Plan #157): €314.62 → €324.06
  • Flex 175 Explore (Plan #158): €214.17 → €220.59

Level Health Plan Updates

Level Health is introducing positive changes, with price reductions across many plans and increased out-patient limits on others.

• Price Decreases: Monthly costs are falling for a selection of Level Health plans, making them more affordable:
  • Plan B 500 (Plan #348): €98.36 → €89.16
  • Plan B 500 Day to Day (Plan #349): €120.46 → €109.49
  • Plan B 300 (Plan #350): €104.89 → €93.95
  • Plan B 300 Day to Day (Plan #351): €126.99 → €115.50
  • Plan B 150 (Plan #352): €128.80 → €117.16
  • Plan B 150 Day to Day (Plan #353): €150.90 → €137.49
• Improved Benefits:
  • Plan E (Plan #357): The annual out-patient limit increases from €3,000 to €4,000.
  • Plan Pro (Plan #358): The annual out-patient limit doubles from €2,000 to €4,000.
  • PlanPro+ (Plan #359): This plan also sees its out-patient limit doubles from €2,000 to €4,000.

Compare Your Options with MedPlan.ie

With these significant changes in benefits and pricing, now is the perfect time to review your health insurance cover. Use the free comparison tool at MedPlan.ie to easily see how these new plans stack up against each other and find the best value for your needs in 2026.