VHI changes rule on upgrading hospital cover

VHI customers who upgrade health insurance policies will not benefit from their inpatient hospital cover for any new conditions for at least six months.

The move — the first of its kind by any insurer here — has been criticised by insurance expert Dermot Goode, who warned that people are going to be increasingly caught out by small print as insurance companies change and tweak their terms and conditions more and more.

Prior to the rule change, which came into effect on Jan 1, all health insurers had provided full cover for new conditions on upgrades and only pre-existing conditions were not covered. This “upgrade clause” is to stop people moving up a plan simply to get better treatment for an illness they already have.