The Health Insurance Authority said many plans now have benefits limited or reduced, the most significant and wide-ranging of these being major procedures such as joint replacement surgery.

Consumers will receive full details of any plan changes directly from their health insurer in their renewal documents, the HIA said.

The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) said it knows price increases are unwelcome, particularly 'during a time of rising living costs'.

These changes apply to renewals on or after January 1st 2026. Mid-contract customers are unaffected until renewal.

People are being urged to brace themselves for increases in the cost of their health insurance.

The cost of private health insurance climbed by an average of 11% in 2024

They have said this is down to the sustained increase in both the volume and costs of healthcare claims.