Fresh Laya Health insurance hike to cost families up to €450

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.

A spokesperson for Laya confirmed that an average price hike of 5.9% will apply across 124 of its 129 plans from that date.

Dermot Goode, an independent expert on healthcare benefits, said when the Laya hike is taken together with a pending hike in the Government health insurance levy, also effective from next month, the average cost of health insurance for a family of two children and two adults will increase by anything from €150 to €450.