Q. I have a very basic health insurance plan that covers public hospitals and I also have a cash plan with HSF. Is it worthwhile keeping the cash plan in place as well or could I be over-insured? A. These cash plans are very different to health insurance. According to broker Dermot Goode of TotalHealthCare.ie they are designed to give refunds on routine out-patient expenses such as GP, consultant fees, physiotherapy, dental, optical etc. They also give cash allowances for every night in hospital (public or private) and also for day case procedures, he says. They are not a substitute for private health insurance cover and given that people are all likely to incur some level of out-patient expenses even for minor ailments or injuries Mr Goode recommends you try and maintain this cover in addition to your health insurance plan.