Laya Healthcare is increasing the prices of 65 of its health insurance policies by an average of 4.7%, which it said is the equivalent of around €80 per adult annually.
The price hikes will take effect from the start of April.
Laya said the increases “reflect rising healthcare costs and will apply to members from the date of their next renewal”.
The provider, which has more than 700,000 customers, said prices will remain unchanged on 37 of its plans while it is retiring 16 of its older plans.
Laya said “affected members will be mapped to suitable and better value alternative plans at renewal”, however, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) said “policyholders do not have to move to the plan offered as a replacement”.
“They are free to move to any plan on the market,” the HIA added.
This is the healthcare provider’s third price increase in the space of a year.
Last October it raised its prices by an average of 4.5%, and in April 2025 policies were hiked by an average of 6.6%.
Director of Health Insurance Ireland Dermot Goode estimates the latest increase from Laya “will cost anything from €62 – €217 for one adult depending on the plan held”.
“Looking at some of their mid-level schemes, this could cost a typical family an extra €148-€203 for the year,” he added.
The health insurance broker said “while some plans will not increase, we understand that the highest increase on certain plans will be up to 9%”.
“Consumers need to be wary of the following: ignore the average figures and check the actual impact on your plan, and remember there could be more than one increase coming your way as rates also went up last October,” Mr Goode added.
The price-rise announcement from Laya follows similar increases already this year from Vhi, Irish Life Health and Level Health.