Health insurer Vhi has announced another price hike to its health insurance plans, marking its third increase in a year.
The insurer, which has around 1.2 million customers, will introduce an average increase of 3% across its plans from March 1, 2026, the company announced on Wednesday.
The increase will see Vhi’s AdvancedCare Day to Day plan for two adults and two children rise by more than €35 per month to €6,946.57. Meanwhile, its PMI 35 13 plan will increase by more than €16 per month for a family of four to €4,852.44.
Vhi confirmed that its PublicPlusCare plans will not be affected by the increase.
The State-owned insurer said the rise was necessary to meet members’ healthcare needs, citing continued increases in demand and the cost of delivering essential services.
The move marks Vhi’s third price increase in the past year, following an average 3% rise in March 2025 and a further 3% increase in August.
In 2025, private hospital claims costs rose by approximately 13%, while the volume of private hospital claims increased by about 8% compared with 2024, the company said.
Vhi said this reflected sustained growth in demand and higher care costs, driven by medical inflation, an ageing population, and the introduction of new drugs, procedures and technologies.
Aaron Keogh, managing director of Vhi Insurance said “Whilst the biggest contributors to overall claims costs continue to be cancer care, orthopaedic treatments, cardiac care, digestive conditions and psychiatric care, our members have access to healthcare in more ways than ever before, not only in hospitals but also through day care and ambulatory settings.”
“The rising demand for healthcare and the increasing cost of delivering it mean that we must adjust our pricing accordingly. We recognise that health insurance is a significant financial outlay for our members, so we will continue to provide a range of plans at different price points to suit differing needs and budgets.”
Vhi, the State’s largest health insurer, returned to profit in 2024, recording a net surplus of €36m. The company said this came despite higher claims payouts and increased premiums.
Speaking at the release of the company’s annual results in August last year, the chief executive of Vhi Group said the performance marked a “solid financial recovery,” allowing the insurer to invest in expanding care and services for members.
Responding to Vhi’s latest price rise, health insurance expert Dermot Goode said the hike was largely expected.
“Vhi typically reviews their rates in March and October each year. Depending on the plan held, this could add between €35 and €160 to the annual cost per adult. For a family, the increase could range from €80 to €270 per year for mid-level plans or higher,” Mr Goode said.
“As always, consumers need to be cautious with these average figures, as the actual increase could be significantly higher depending on the plan held. Fortunately, many consumers who renewed their cover in January and February will avoid this latest price hike.
“However, those renewing from March onwards will be facing two increases from VHI: this latest increase and the price change from last October.
Mr Goode added that Level Health has already announced rate hikes effective February 2, adding that if Laya Healthcare follows previous trends, customers can expect a rate increase from April, although this is yet to be confirmed.
