The new health insurer in the Irish market, BUPA Ireland, plans to intensify its drive for new members and group schemes to coincide with the VHI's 9 per cent increase in subscriptions from today. A BUPA spokeswoman said yesterday the increase gave it "a further significant price advantage". Its campaign would concentrate on consumers who renewed their policies between September and January.
She claimed that, with the VHI increase, it would cost a person £260 on the VHI's Plan B, which was almost 21 per cent (£45) higher that BUPA's competing scheme, Essential Plus (at £215). However, the VHI has disputed the merit of such comparisons, notably in the context of excesses that are applied with a treatment.
BUPA said it would also be targeting families with students as it was charging third-level students between 18 and 21 at child rates.
BUPA's campaign will concentrate on what it perceives as its advantages in offering full cover with no balance bill in participating hospitals, full cover for cancer treatment and cardiac surgery on all schemes and alternative medicine cover.
