And new player Level Health, which is backed by Aviva, followed with an announcment it is increasing the cost of its advanced plans by €48 from April 3. These are called Plans B, C and D.
Irish Life Health is putting up premiums by an average of 5.9pc from the start of April.
The most recent main increase from Irish Life was in January this year and was 5pc on average.
This latest rise will cost between €180 and €330 extra a year for a family of two adults and two children.
The price changes will apply for new customers from the first day of April, and existing customers whose renewal is due from that date onwards.
Irish Life Health blamed what it said was continuing medical inflation and the levy charge announced by the Government.
The levy, which is to ensure everyone pays the same price for the same level of cover irrespective of how old or ill they are, goes up on April 1.
The levy on what are called advanced plans will increase by €48 to €517 a year.
Managing director of Irish Life Health Ann Marie Nestor said: “Increases in the cost of delivering healthcare continue to be a challenge for health insurers and these rising costs are outpacing general inflation.
“Consequently, the price of medical care, medicines and treatments is increasing at a higher rate than everyday household expenses.”
Ms Nestor said more customers have access to specialised treatment, using more sophisticated and in many cases, more expensive technology.
“By way of example – newer cancer treatments are more targeted and effective, and can mean fewer side effects, fewer hospital admissions, and better long-term survival.
“For patients and families, that can make a very real difference to day-to-day wellbeing and long-term outcomes.”
Ms Nestor said that just five years ago a typical treatment session for many common cancers might have cost around €3,000. Today, that same session can be closer to €9,000 when newer medicines are used, she said.
She said the Government levy was big cost for it.
“The change in the Government levy is also impacting prices negatively.
“For example, if someone is paying a premium of €1,700 per annum, the levy will now account for 30pc of that premium,” she said.
Leading health insurance broker Dermot Goode of HealthInsuranceIreland.ie said based on the average Irish Life Health rises announced, costs will go up by between €75 and €238 per adult a year on a mid-level plan.
“Looking at some of its popular family schemes, this could cost a typical family an extra €180 to €330 for the year.”
Mr Goode said some Irish Life Health plans will not increase, but he understands that the highest increase on certain plans will be 11pc.
Level Health said it would increase the cost of its advanced plans by €48, passing on the Government levy.
It said the levy was a cost increase imposed by the Government which it said was unnecessary. It accused the Government of “blindly following a strategy that just increases the levy on health insurance customers almost every year, increasing from €160 when it was introduced in 2009 to an unsustainable €517 in 2026”.
source