Families insured with Laya to be hit with hikes of up to €700

Families insured with Laya to be hit with hikes of up to €700

Health insurance hikes are being announced monthly now.

Health insurer Laya is increasing the cost of its plans again, as price hikes are now being announced on a monthly basis by the main health insurers.

Premiums are going up by an average of 4.5pc on a range plans from October, although there are also some reductions.

The Cork-based insurer has more than 700,000 members.

Some families will see the cost of their plan rise by more than €700 a year.

The moves comes after a succession of premium price rises from Laya, along with rivals VHI Healthcare and Irish Life Health. New player Level Health increased the cost of one of its plans earlier this year.

This year insurers have also slashed the benefits on health plans at t