Threatened VHI hike will see premiums up 120%

VHI customers will have suffered a massive 120% increase in their health insurance cost since the start of the recession if the insurer imposes a threatened 50% budget-induced price rise.

Since early 2009, the cost of coverage from all health insurers has surged upwards for a variety of reasons including medical inflation, dwindling customer numbers and the Government’s €205 adult and €66 child annual health insurance levy.

All three of the companies offering services in the Irish health insurance market have been involved in this price rise.