High street household goods store Hema is expanding its insurance activities by adding health insurance to its product range.

A basic Hema health policy will cost €89 a month. The company already offers car and travel insurance and said last week it is moving into notarial services, such as will-making.

Some one million people are expected to swap health insurance company over the next two months – the statutory annual window for change.

Chemists’ chain Kruidvat used to offer a health insurance policy but stopped, Nos television said.