Hard-pressed consumers face another price hike as Laya Healthcare confirms 4.5% increase

Laya Healthcare has confirmed Irish customers will have to pay more for several of its health insurance plans from October, following its decision to increase prices.

The company, which has over 700,000 customers around the country, says it's 'retiring' ten of its current policies and introducing three new plans as part of the announcement, which will a blow for tens of thousands of cuctomers. 

Polices will increase by an average of 4.5%, meaning many customers will have to pay several hundred euro more per year to maintain their current private health cover.

Customers who will be impacted by the price hike will be notified directly when the existing policies are up for renewal. Any  increases will only apply new renewals so there will be no change to existing policies. 

For customers whose plans are being retired, they will be offered the option to move to an equivalent policy if they opt to renew and stay with Laya. 

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The price hike is the Laya's second this year and follows an increase of 6.6%, which took effect in April.

While most of the company's health plans will increase in price from October 1, a small number of plans will see a slight reduction in price - within the 'signify' and 'core connect' plans.

Commenting on the price rises, Managing Director of Laya healthcare D.O O'Connor said: "The cost of delivering healthcare is going up across the world, and Ireland is no exception.

"Demand for health services is at an all-time high, particularly in the private and hi-tech hospital settings where we’re seeing a 14.8% increase in 2025 claim costs (year-to-date) when compared to last year.

"While advances in medical technology and new therapies are delivering welcome improvements in health outcomes for our members, this comes at the highest cost we’ve seen in over 25 years.

"Our product review aims to strike a careful balance between delivering fast access to healthcare while safeguarding affordability of cover for our members. Our product review gives our members greater choices and flexibility in their plans to keep their health cover at a cost that’s within reach," he told RTÉ.