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Irish Life Health Sets 5% Premium Rise From January 2026 in Fourth Increase This Year

The insurer cites rising claims costs in private hospitals, pushing prices higher ahead of a heavy renewal season.

Overview

  • The increase applies to new customers and to existing members whose policies renew on or after January 1, 2026, with mid‑contract customers unaffected until renewal.
  • Indicative impacts reported include €65–€125 extra per year for a single adult and €160–€255 for a typical family, with some higher‑level plans facing rises of up to 11% on a small number of products.
  • Roughly 1.25 million policyholders are due to renew between December and February, concentrating the effect of the latest rise.
  • Vhi Healthcare, Laya Healthcare and new entrant Level Health have also raised prices in recent months, though Level Health is holding current rates until February 1.
  • The Health Insurance Authority is urging consumers to review cover and use its comparison tools, while a Government levy on most plans rises by €48 to €517 from April.