Two major health insurers have confirmed fresh premium increases, adding to cost-of-living pressures for households.
Irish Life Health will raise premiums by an average of 5.9% from April 1, while Level Health has announced that its advanced plans will increase by €48 from April 3.
The move follows multiple price hikes across the health insurance market last year.
Rising healthcare costs
Irish Life Health said the increases reflect the rising cost of delivering medical care, medicines and treatments, which it says are growing faster than general inflation.
Managing director Ann Marie Nestor said healthcare cost inflation continues to outpace everyday household expenses.
Impact on consumers
Health insurance broker Dermot Wells of Cornmarket warned the increases come at a difficult time for consumers. He said the Government’s planned 10% levy increase in 2026 will further raise costs, pushing the adult advanced levy to €517 and the child levy to €172.
Wells added that average premium increases in 2026 could exceed 15%, raising concerns about affordability and long-term market stability.
Dermot Goode of Health Insurance Ireland estimated that, based on Irish Life Health’s figures, some adults on mid- to high-level plans could face annual increases of between €75 and €238. While not all plans will rise, certain plans may increase by up to 11%.
He said the pattern of frequent price hikes across insurers including Irish Life Health, Level Health, VHI and Laya suggests further increases are likely through 2026, with lower-tier policyholders at risk of being priced out.
Call to review cover
Health Insurance Authority chief executive Brian Lee urged consumers to review their policies at renewal and compare options carefully.
He said the authority’s role is to ensure consumers have clear and impartial information to make informed decisions amid rising premiums.