Health insurance customers have been handed another bill rise heading into winter. Level Health, the Aviva-backed insurer, says it will increase the price of most of its plans by an average of 4.5% from 1 December, the latest in a string of premium hikes that have pushed private cover further out of reach for many households this year.
The good news for existing and would-be members is that there is a short window to beat the increase. Anyone who takes out or renews a Level Health policy before the new prices kick in will keep today’s price for the next 12 months, according to RTÉ and the Irish Examiner.
What is changing and who is hit
The increase averages 4.5%, but not every plan is going up. Level Health’s entry-level Plan A is being held at €419.88 a year for adults aged 26 and over, a price that already includes a 10% discount for buying online. The Irish Examiner reports that all of the company’s other plans will rise. Neither report broke down the exact change for each individual plan, so members should check their own renewal notice or the insurer’s website to see what it means for them.
Level Health is one of the smaller players in the Irish market. According to figures from the Health Insurance Authority cited by the Irish Examiner, it held about 1.4% of the market at the end of June. It operates as a joint venture with Aviva Insurance Ireland, which underwrites its policies.
Chief executive Jim Dowdall said the company was conscious of the cost-of-living pressure on families, but argued the rise was needed to keep pace with healthcare costs that “continue to increase year on year”.
Part of a year of rises
The move comes after a bruising year for health insurance customers. VHI, the country’s biggest insurer, raised its premiums by 2.75% at the start of October, its second increase of 2026, the Irish Examiner reported. Back in February, TheJournal reported that Irish Life Health was introducing a 5.9% rise from 1 April, on top of a 5% increase in January, while Level Health added €48 to the cost of its Advanced B, C and D plans in April after the Government increased the health insurance levy.
At the time, Health Insurance Ireland’s Dermot Good estimated that families on mid-level plans could pay between €180 and €330 more a year because of the Irish Life Health increase, and warned that some people risked being priced out of the market altogether.
The Irish Examiner has also reported on falling numbers holding private health insurance as average premiums climb, a trend that will worry the industry as cover is a key part of how many families access hospital care.
How to soften the blow
For anyone with Level Health, the most practical step is timing. Because the new prices apply from 1 December, a renewal or new policy taken out before then locks in the current price for a full year. That could be worth looking at for members whose renewal falls in December or early in the new year, though anyone thinking of renewing early should check the terms of their existing contract first.
More broadly, the Health Insurance Authority has long encouraged consumers to shop around at renewal, as plans with similar levels of cover can vary widely in price. Switching insurers does not mean losing waiting periods already served for the same level of cover, and there are often several near-identical plans sold under different names. Members can also ask their current insurer whether a cheaper plan offers the cover they actually use.
Employers who pay for health insurance as a benefit will also feel the increase, as will anyone paying for a group scheme. Tax relief at the standard rate applies to health insurance premiums, but is usually granted at source, so the headline price is generally what customers see.
What happens next
The new Level Health prices take effect on 1 December. Health insurers typically announce price changes several weeks in advance, and with medical inflation and levy changes still feeding through, consumers should not be surprised if other providers follow before the January renewal season. We will update readers on any further increases as they are announced.
Sources
- RTÉ News: Level Health to increase price of some plans in December (30 October 2026)
- Irish Examiner: Health insurer Level Health to raise prices by 4.5% on average (30 October 2026)
- TheJournal.ie: Irish Life Health and Level Health hike premiums, as families face up to €330 extra yearly cost (27 February 2026)
Leave a Reply