Families insured by Laya Healthcare can expect to pay anywhere between €150 and €450 extra per annum from April 1, following a decision by the private health insurer to hike charges for a second time this year.

Laya, the country’s second-largest health insurer, posted a 22% increase in profits in 2015, but faced increased claims from public hospitals last year.

Ireland's second largest private health insurance company expects "several hundred thousand patients" to be using online GP video consultations within the next few years.

Laya Healthcare is to push up prices by an average of 4% on more than half of its policies.

A day after VHI hiked many of its plans by an average of 3%, it is reported that some Laya Healthcare customers could be facing a 10% increase.