Dermot Goode has played a significant role in influencing the way Irish families and businesses see health insurance by providing incredibly useful advice on how to reduce expenses without sacrificing necessary coverage. After working in inside positions at VHI and BUPA for decades, he founded Total Health Cover in 2014. His consultancy has always been quite open about its devotion to clients rather than insurers, in contrast to many linked brokers.
Goode changed the power dynamics by establishing a fee-based advisory business that demonstrated to regular families how to save thousands of euros without compromising essential protections. This strategy was especially helpful during a period when premiums were skyrocketing and consumers felt constrained by their allegiance to established insurance companies. His reviews, which start at €150, aim to provide solutions that suit the client’s budget, family demands, and life stage rather than trying to push a transition.
Dermot Goode – Bio and Career
| Name | Dermot Goode |
|---|---|
| Profession | Health Insurance Expert, Founder of Total Health Cover |
| Experience | 35+ years in Irish healthcare and insurance |
| Former Roles | VHI, BUPA, Cornmarket, Irish Pensions Trust, Mercer |
| Founded | Total Health Cover – August 2014 |
| Current Role | Senior Consultant, Lockton Insurance Brokers (Ireland) Ltd |
| Expertise | Health Insurance, Medical Cash Plans, Dental, Vision Care, Employee Wellness |
| Known For | Impartial, fee-based reviews of all 350 Irish health insurance plans |
| Reference | Total Health Cover – Official Website |
His company has significantly increased the transparency of a field that is frequently obscured by jargon over the last ten years. While older couples may be directed toward insurance with higher cardiac and orthopedic protections, his advise for parents often emphasizes the value of outpatient coverage. The recommendations are customized and remarkably close in detail to the type of custom financial planning that wealth management customers typically receive.
Goode’s model expanded in scope and size in 2022 when Lockton purchased Total Health Cover. With his admission, Lockton made sure that his principles—fairness, openness, and putting the needs of the client first—were maintained and expanded to corporate initiatives and wellness initiatives for staff members. The head of Lockton’s health insurance business, Mark Ruddy, has expanded Goode’s concept into more comprehensive solutions by include items like dental and vision coverage, which are becoming more and more in demand by companies looking to recruit top talent.
In influencing discussions, Dermot Goode’s media presence has proven remarkably resilient. When yearly price increases make headlines, he has become as the go-to spokesperson for publications like RTÉ and The Irish Times. His function is quite comparable to that of Martin Lewis in the UK, who transformed the way that consumers understood finance. Goode has done the same for health insurance in Ireland, bringing an inaccessible system into reach of regular homes.
Goode has also drawn attention to the difficulties faced by emigrants returning to Ireland throughout the years, a group that is frequently punished for coverage gaps. He demonstrated how immensely flexible his service could be by providing reviews that were specifically suited to them, even if they came with higher prices. This ensured that no group was left without direction. Families’ financial results were enhanced by these initiatives, which also gave them more confidence to navigate a daunting system.
His contribution is very creative because it combines consumer rights with workable solutions. Families juggling healthcare priorities can relate to his consistent emphasis that reducing expenses should never entail taking shortcuts. His counsel has reinforced the idea that healthcare decisions must remain intensely personal while also drastically cutting down on wasteful spending.
His work has a societal influence that goes well beyond policy comparisons. Goode has changed the dynamic between customers and businesses by giving them the ability to oppose insurers. Companies have started to demand value for their employees’ coverage, and families who previously viewed yearly hikes as inevitable are increasingly asking more pointed questions. His extraordinarily successful campaigning is demonstrated by this change in customer behavior.
The legacy of Dermot Goode extends beyond his consulting work. It is part of a broader cultural shift that expects healthcare discussions to be fair and transparent. Under Lockton’s worldwide structure, his method has significantly improved, but it still has the individualized touch that initially earned its faith.
The role of unbiased advisors like Goode is becoming more and more important as Ireland continues to deal with growing medical expenses and strain on public healthcare. His work serves as a reminder that even in intricate fields where big institutions predominate, one person’s integrity and clarity can have a profound impact on thousands of outcomes. His career demonstrates that a client-first approach coupled with competence produces surprisingly successful and long-lasting benefits.
