Vhi Healthcare Celebrates 1.5 millionth Member & Announces Increased Benefit

31st October 2000 - Vhi Healthcare today (31 October, 2000) announced the enrolment of its 1.5 millionth member, baby Michael James Doyle who was delivered at the Coombe Hospital on 25 September last, to the delight of his parents Emer and Gary Doyle from Lucan, Co. Dublin.

Vhi Healthcare chief executive, Oliver Tattan congratulated Michael’s parents saying: "Vhi Healthcare is absolutely delighted to welcome its 1.5 millionth member. We wish him a long, happy and healthy life."

Vhi Healthcare also announced significant enhancements to its Plans A-E and Option plans as follows:

Maternity benefit for all hospital charges for admissions on or after 1 November 2000 has been increased to three days full cover to a maximum cash benefit of up to £875 depending on your plan.

Plan	Previous Benefit	New Benefit
Plans A-E	£450	£675
Plan A Options	£450	£675
Plan B Options	£500	£725
Plan C Options	£550	£775
Plan D Options	£600	£825
Plan E Options	£650	£875

From renewal date on or after 1 January 2001, pre and post natal benefits are improved as follows:-

Plan	Previous Benefit	New Benefit
Plans A-E	£40	£100
Option Plans	£150	£200

A contribution of up to £725 (previously £500) depending on your plan, is payable for medical expenses incurred for home births.

Additional cover for alternative medicine is included under out-patient benefits.

For Plans A-E the benefit is £10 per visit up to a maximum of four visits per annum and for Option plans the benefit is £15 per visit up to a maximum of six visits per annum. The treatments covered are Osteopathy, Chiropracty and Acupuncture, if provided by a practitioner who is registered with their appropriate body.

All Vhi Healthcare members can now avail of Healthline. This is a 24-hour, 365 day telephone service that provides access to information on medical conditions, drugs, health education and lists of local doctors, pharmacies, support and self-help groups. The telephone number is CallSave 1850 22 66 22.

"Vhi Healthcare is delighted to bring these additional benefits to our members. The 1999 Government White Paper on Private Health Insurance affords VHi Healthcare an opportunity to respond to the urgent and growing demands for additional products and services that are currently not available on the Irish market. Vhi’s new proposed primary care scheme, which will be launched when the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2000 is passed into law, will be another step towards providing more integrated healthcare services for members" said Oliver Tattan.