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An Overview of the Irish Healthcare System
There are two tiers of health services in Ireland:
- The Irish Public Health system
- The Irish Private Health system
The Irish Public Healthcare system is governed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). It provides health and social services to EU/EEA or Swiss nationals and residents of Ireland. Many public health services are free of charge but in some cases, there may be a fee. In order to receive publicly funded health services, you do not need to be paying Irish tax or social insurance, but you must be able to satisfy the HSE that you are ‘ordinarily resident in Ireland’.
Although Ireland’s public health system offers treatment at a significantly reduced rate, the long waitlists turn many to private health insurance. In addition, depending on your personal circumstances, you may be required to have private health insurance as part of your visa requirements. Some employers may provide health insurance as part of their employment package.
Tips- Use this guide to assist you to select a private health insurance plan.
- Got questions? Refer to these private health insurance FAQ’s.
- Keen to get the best deal? Compare health insurance policies here.
Irish Private Health Insurance – menu shortcuts:
- Irish Private Health Insurance Regulations
- Irish Private Health Insurance Lifetime Community Rating
- Irish Private Health Insurance Providers
- Irish Private Health Insurance for International Students
Irish Private Health Insurance Regulations
All private health insurance providers in Ireland are registered with the Health Insurance Authority (HIA), the country’s independent regulator for private health insurance. The HIA website also provides information about your rights and advice on how to select your plan. They also have a feature on their website that allows you to compare health insurance plans.
Health insurance providers that offer inpatient hospital services must provide a minimum level of benefits:
- Day care/in-patient treatment
- Hospital out-patient treatment
- Maternity benefits
- Convalescence
- Psychiatric treatment and substance abuse
- The minimum accommodation level is semi-private in a public hospital.
Although your treatment may be privately funded, you may find yourself receiving treatment at a public hospital. That’s because the public hospitals provide a number of private or semi-private beds to boost their income. Consequently, you will be treated as a private patient and charged the full cost for the services provided.
Health insurance companies must provide you lifetime cover. This means that they cannot refuse to provide you cover. They must also accept anyone who wishes to join regardless of their age, sex or health status, but you will be subject to waiting periods before the cover takes effect. New customer waiting periods for pre-existing conditions can be a maximum of 5 years, however, if you have already served this time with another insurer you do not need to do so again when transferring to another provider.
Health Insurance abroad is not taken into account for the purposes of waiting periods. However, a health insurer may waive the waiting period at their discretion, because the law imposes a maximum on waiting periods that an insurer may require, but no minimum. Some insurers routinely waive waiting periods if you have previously held health insurance in Ireland or if you were covered by certain types of health insurance while abroad.
Unlike other insurances such as motor or life insurance, your age, sex, health or past record of claims does not affect the price that you will be charged for your health insurance. Therefore, all adults pay equally for the same amount of benefits. However, charges for people aged under 18, people aged 18 to 23 who are in full-time education, retired people who have a special arrangement within their company’s health insurance scheme and people in group health insurance schemes may all be on a lower rate than the normal adult rate. Private health insurance premiums are subject to income tax relief at source.
Irish Private Health Insurance Lifetime Community Rating
Lifetime community rating is a system whereby the premium that individuals pay for health insurance rises with the age they enter the private health insurance market, but does not vary in relation to their current age. Under this system, a 50 year old who has held insurance since they were 30 would pay the same as a 30 year old, but a 50 year old who purchases insurance for the first time would pay more than a 30 year old.
A loading of 2% of the gross premium will apply for every year of age higher than age 34 that an individual has attained when they first purchase inpatient private health insurance after 30 April 2015.
For further details about the lifetime community rating, refer to The Department of Health’s list of frequently asked questions.
Irish Private Health Insurance Providers
Irish Private Health Insurance for International Students
Unless you are from the EU/EEA, you must obtain health insurance during your time studying in Ireland. If you have insurance from your own country, you must provide evidence of the extent of the cover (there are minimum cover requirements) and that it will cover you whilst you are in Ireland. Otherwise you will need to get Irish health insurance. You can get a basic plan from Study and Protect. They have a list of universities that they partner with on their website. They also allow you to arrange insurance before arriving in Ireland.
If you want more comprehensive insurance, then get online quotes from the companies above. However, some of these companies won’t allow you to take out a policy until you have an Irish address. Some of them may also have minimum wait periods, so you will need to arrange interim insurance.
Richard
A word of warning about health insurance for anybody intending to move to Ireland in their later years. I am a British citizen working overseas for many years and have been insured for 17 years with a well-known UK insurance company that serves expatriates. On paying Zone 1 (World except USA) premiums for some prior months, and then moving to Ireland, I received an email from my insurers stating that (since Jan 2023) they are not recognized by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) of Ireland, and that therefore they will drop me like a stone to ‘make my other arrangements’. Given that the major Irish Insurance companies also do not recognize insurance outside of Ireland, there is no ‘handover’ of medical history/ claims history from my previous ‘foreign’ insurers, and my entry into the Irish insurance system, at my advanced age of 65, will be as a first-time applicant. This means that I can be insured, but that any condition which might be deemed by physicians to have pre-existed in a ‘waiting period’ of 5 YEARS since joining the Irish insurers cannot be covered. So my warning to all is, if you have an insurance with an international company outside Ireland, you will be starting from scratch again once you enter to settle, whether this new insurance is with VHI, Laya, Irish Life etc. In you are in your 50s and 60s, ANY condition you may enter hospital with could very easily be regarded as ‘pre-existing’ for up to 5 years previously and therefore not covered.
Mark
Hi Collen,
Thanks for a wonderful site!
I’m a diabetic and have been since 2003, I’m in the planning stages of a work related move to Dublin. I was wondering if their is any way to cover GP costs and medical related tests via a private medical insurance policy?
I will work for IBM and have medical insurance via them, but was wondering if that normally covers GP visits, I don’t think it does. I was wondering if you could provide any advice?
Thanks
Colleen
Hi Mark,
I don’t work for IBM so I don’t know the details of their medical insurance cover. I suggest you contact the company that provides their cover and get a copy of their terms to check what they do cover – perhaps start by contacting the HR department. There are some private insurance policies that provide reimbursements for GP visits, but you would need to contact the insurance companies listed to see what policies they can offer you.
Cate
I’m curious what you found out Mark. I too am looking into moving. But am retired so no insurance thru my job.
Michael
Hello Colleen. This is a great site. I will be using it quite a bit. I am a US Citizen but also Irish with Foreign Birth Registered citizenship. I carry an Irish Passport too. I own a home in West Cork and I am 62 years old. I will be moving to live in my home for no less than 6 months starting this year. Health Insurance! I have good coverage in the US but want to insure I have good coverage in Ireland as well. I believe Private is the way to go. Do you have any other insights on my getting good coverage? Also, I will be starting the process of getting a learners permit, a car, etc. Do you have a good recommendation on someone who could coach me through all of the moving to Ireland aspects that will come up? Is there such thing as a consultant for that type of thing? Thanks and cheers.
Bernadette Moss
Thank you for your reply but can I ask that you remove my surname from the site for privacy responses. Thank you.
Colleen
Actioned
Bernadette
Hi Colleen, My husband and I are finally able to live full time in Ireland from February this year. We have bought a house in Ireland 3 years ago but have had problems selling our house in the UK with Brexit and then covid. We have not registered with a doctor yet in Ireland and when I was over there in September, I could not find a doctor that would register us. No reason given. We are both retired and fortunately both in good health. We had intended to apply to the HIA to transfer our UK medical cards for Irish medical cards under EU rules. But as the UK have left the EU does this still apply or can we get medical cards under the common travel area. Any help you can give us on these matters would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Colleen
Hi Bernadette,
You can see the guidance on accessing healthcare in the CTA here and a more detailed guide on the Irish Government website under Health and Brexit.
Brandon
Thanks so much for sharing this information. My family is currently purchasing a property in Donegal. My daughters and I hold both EU (German) and American passports and my partner only an American passport. We hope to spend between 3 – 4 months per year at the house. However, it’s possible it could be a bit more or a bit less each year. What approach to insurance – if any – is recommended for a part-time resident situation?
Colleen
You could consider if a European Health Insurance card would suit your needs. You could also consider getting health insurance in your country of residence that will provide you cover for your visits to Ireland.
Lisa
Hi Colleen,
My husband and I are planning to move to Ireland (I’m American, he’s Irish). I don’t expect to start working right away as we have young children. My husband will either continue to work (remotely) for a company here in the US – or set up his own company in Ireland. We wonder if we are eligible for both public and private medical insurance. Any guidance you can give to help our family with this move is much appreciated.
Lisa
Colleen
In order to be eligible for the Irish healthcare you need to establish ordinary residence. You can take out private healthcare but be aware that you will need to serve waiting periods. The providers will be able to advise you on this based on your personal circumstances.
Paddy
Hi Colleen,
My wife and I will be returning to Ireland this Christmas. My wife is expecting in April and currently, we have US private health insurance. We were given the green light to work from Ireland for the foreseeable future. Can you advise what the best steps are for us to take to ensure we have good health coverage in Ireland once April rolls around? Also, would it be worth us asking our employers here if our current health insurance can be used to cover the birth process come April?
Thanks.
Colleen
Hi Paddy,
If you are planning on replacing your US private health for an Irish private health cover, then you should start getting quotes to check what they will cover come April as they usually have strict waiting times. During those wait times they usually only cover emergency. You should also check if your employer offers private health, but again check what they will cover and what the terms, conditions, and waiting periods are.
Raj Krishnan
Hi,
I am planning to relocate to Ireland by paetner visa. It requires that i must have a private can you please suggest one for me?
Colleen
I’m not able to recommend any insurance provider. I suggest you use the comparison sites to assist you to choose the one most suitable for your personal circumstances.
Mohammed Hindawi
I am Mohammed From Jordan I am looking for Medical Insurance in Ireland that meets the condition of (Proof will be required of insurance coverage of a minimum of €25,000 for accident and €25,000 for disease), all offers are less than €25,000. The offer of (Study and Protect is less than €25,000). What can I do?
Colleen
You will need to contact the Health Insurance companies to get quotes that meet your criteria from them.
Noreen
Hello Colleen! I am hooked on your FABULOUS website; so comprehensive! I have dual citizenship and Irish and American passports. Would I be considered for public and/or private health insurance? I have health insurance from the states, but wondering if Ireland recognizes other health insurance companies along with their policies?
Thanks!
Colleen
Hi Noreen, in order to be eligible for the public health service, you need to establish ordinary residence.
If your health insurance is willing to cover your health care in Ireland then all the private providers are concerned about is ensuring their bills paid.
Fernanda
Hi! My husband and I (he’s Argentine and I’m Italian) will be relocating to Ireland next year. I was wondering what would be best for, public or private health insurance, as I can’t seem to understand the difference in coverage? And are there any available discounts as a couple? Thank you so much!
Colleen
Hi Fernanda,
That is really a personal decision based on your personal circumstances and the plan that you choose and the benefits they offer. e.g. if you are on public and you need a medical procedure, then you may need to go onto a waitlist, but if you have private, you may be able to get treatment faster; your plan may cover some of the cost of your GP.
Kathleen
I’d appreciate it if you would remove my last name. That was a misunderstanding on my part
Colleen
All fixed.
Kathleen
Hello,
Could you please clarify the following: You are ordinarily resident if you have been living in Ireland for at least a year or you intend to live here for at least one year.
I have dual citizenship, Irish and US, but I haven’t lived full time in Ireland since I was a child. I want to move back
as a full time resident, and I am wondering what the phrase “intend to live here for at least one year” means. How would a person demonstrate intention?
Thanks very much. Your posts are very interesting and helpful.
Colleen
Hi Kathleen,
On the HSE website it states:
People who have not been resident in Ireland for at least one year must satisfy the HSE that it is their intention to remain for a minimum of one year in order to be eligible for health services.
Not particularly helpful is it? As I don’t work for HSE, I can’t provide advice about how they come to their decision, but I think it would probably be showing things that demonstrate you are planning on staying in Ireland long term and are not just there on holiday. E.g. a rental agreement for a property or even property ownership, you have gained employment, you have set up a bank account etc..
There is not a lot of other information, but others who have experienced this may add further comments.
Prudhvi
Hi Collen , Hope you are doing great
I am planning to go Ireland for my Master, suggest me a best student insurance. I don’t have any medical issues.
It’s just to protect me and to support for my visa application.
Note: Do I require Indian insurance to cover me before I travel or applying for Irish study insurance before I travel from home country is ok?
Colleen
The section in this post titled Irish Private Health Insurance for International Students should answer these questions for you. Let me know if it needs further explanation.
sheila
My Son and his family moved to Eire 2-3 yrs ago, (she is Irish) He works in Dublin and has family Health Insurance.
However 12 yrs ago when they lived in UK I took out a Personal Accident Plan for him and have paid ever since, I understand it cannot be transferred! Seems very unfair.
Is there a company in Ireland that has a policy that would pay him income for a permanent injury should the worst happen?
Colleen
You can get personal injury insurance in Ireland. You just need to Google it and plenty of companies come up.
Wangu Batlhalefi
Hi Gary
I will be relocating to ireland to work as Nurse end of this year. How much will it cost(approximately) for a private health insurance for a family of 4( oldest 37years and youngest 5 years).
Colleen
You will need to obtain a quote from the Health insurance providers directly as everyones personal circumstances are different. If you go onto their websites you can get a quote online.
Kind regards,
Colleen
Dermot Keegan
Hi, am 76 and my wife (74) and I will be returning to Ireland later this year – left in 1967 – throughout my working life the schools have always provided my health insurance,0 – since retiring we have been living in South Africa and have been covered by two local “medical aid” schemes – first SelfMed and currently Discovery. I am currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and wondering if you can give us any advice of our prospects for health cover once we get home.
Sincerely
Dermot Keegan
Colleen
Hi Dermot, just to bring your attention to the paragraph on this page which I believe answers your question ‘Health insurance companies must provide you lifetime cover. This means that they cannot refuse to provide you cover. They must also accept anyone who wishes to join regardless of their age, sex or health status, but you will be subject to waiting periods before the cover takes effect. However, if you have already served this time with another insurer you do not need to do so again when transferring to another provider.’
Health Insurance abroad is not taken into account for the purposes of waiting periods. However, a health insurer may waive the waiting period at their discretion, because the law imposes a maximum on waiting periods that an insurer may require, but no minimum. Some insurers routinely waive waiting periods if you have previously held health insurance in Ireland or if you were covered by certain types of health insurance while abroad.
I suggest you contact the companies to get quotes (most offer online quotes) so you have an understanding of how much it will cost you.
Homesh Chopra
Hi Collen,
I am from India and looking forward to doing my masters from Ireland. But I am a thalassemia major patient who requires regular blood transfusions and iron chelation medicines. So I wanted to know whether private healthcare companies will cover me or not due to my pre-existing disease?
Colleen
I suggest you ring the health insurance companies to discuss your circumstances with them. At present, health insurance companies must accept anyone who wishes to join, subject to any applicable waiting periods. They will likely expect you to serve a waiting period and your premiums may be higher.
Delizia
Hello Colleen,
I am a EU (Italian) passport holder. I am looking to living in Ireland with my daughter (EU Italian passport holder). My daughter is currently on medical aid in the SA however I am not.
Would it be possible for me to obtain medical insurance for myself when I enter Ireland and if so which one would you recommend. My daughter will be covered from her side as her dad pays for her Medical Aid (medical insurance in SA).
Please could you advise.
Thanks DElizia
Colleen
Health insurance companies must accept anyone who wishes to join living in Ireland, subject to any applicable waiting periods before cover takes effect.
Vinit
Am from India. I would be relocating to Ireland with my wife. I have critical skills employment permit. The Visa process requires me to have medical insurance of 12 months. What I do not understand is whether I should have insurance from Indian insurance company or from Irish insurance company like VHI? Please guide, it is urgent.
Colleen
It may be difficult for you to arrange for Irish health insurance prior to your arrival as you typically need an Irish address, so you may need to get insurance from India initially. Then you can arrange Irish insurance once you arrive.
Kevin
I was wondering if you knew if getting health insurance through an employer would have different waiting period requirements for pre existing conditions. I might be moving over with my family from the states, if I get this job, and I am looking into insurance.
Colleen
Hi Kevin,
Health insurance providers typically have a wait period for particular conditions but accident and injury is usually covered immediately. It will really depend on the conditions of the health insurance offered through your employer.
Midhu Sunnyraj
Hi Colleen, I have a query: my husband will be relocating to Ireland for the next 2 years(intended long tern relocation) i would like to know if he would qualify for public health care? If not, could you please recommend private health care that does not have a waiting period?
Colleen
It depends on the circumstances of his residency and citizenship. You will need to provide more information – does he have citizenship rights? Is he moving to work there? Typically you need to arrive with health insurance to cover you until you are able to establish ordinary residence and get access to the public healthcare. I’m not aware of any health insurance provider that doesn’t have a wait period, but accident and injury will usually be covered immediately.
Leah byrne
Hey Hows your husband doing ? Is he still in Ireland
Pieter
Good day,
Myself and some associates are starting a new rehab center in South Africa. I would like to know what would we need to complete and or do/pay in order to be registered with you for any of your policy holders to be able to make use of our services? (There already are a large number of EU members who come here for treatment as is)
Kind regards,
Ulrich Fischer
Colleen
Hi Peiter,
I don’t run a health insurance company so don’t have any policy holders.
Marie
I am planning on moving to Ireland to reside with my Irish boyfriend next year and I am looking for Medical coverage. It’s all confusing to me and I really don’t know where to start. I just finished Cancer treatment in Nov 2018 and have been declared Cancer free as of May 2019’s mammogram. I am worried about not being able to get the right coverage for my health needs, since I must have a mammogram and a pap smear annually. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much
Colleen
Congrats on getting through treatment and being cancer free.
Instead of getting quotes online, it will likely be easier for you to ring the health insurance companies to discuss your circumstances with them. At present, health insurance companies must accept anyone who wishes to join, subject to any applicable waiting periods
They should be able to accept medical evidence that your condition is now stable. But you should also get assurance that they will cover your ongoing monitoring appointments. They will likely expect you to serve a waiting period and your premiums may be higher initially, but you may be able to negotiate a reduction after your first year.
Andrew Horgan
I am moving to Cork tomorrow with my wife who has been granted a long term D visa. Does she need to get private medical insurance before arrival?
Colleen
Some of the Health Insurance companies won’t allow you to take out a policy until you have an Irish address and some of them may also have minimum wait periods. Therefore, you may have to arrange interim insurance such as travel insurance to cover you whilst waiting for the Health Insurance to start.
FATIMA EZZAHRA
Hi Colleen
I am fatima from Morocco I will start my Phd in Ireland; please I need some information
Best Regards
Colleen
Hi Fatima,
What sort of information do you need?
Colleen
FATIMA EZZAHRA EL KARMI
Hi
I need a Private Medical Insurance cover to Apply for visa, I am wondering what is the procedure and if I can get an evidence from my country .
Thank you
Colleen
You will need to arrange private medical insurance with a provider in your home country and you will need to provide the evidence of this in order to enter the country. The provider should provide you with a letter or statement outlining your policy cover. Once you have moved to Ireland and have an Irish address you can change to an Irish insurance company if you wish. If you are coming to Ireland to study then you can arrange a plan before arriving in Ireland with Study and Protect. For more details see the final heading of this post ‘Irish Private Health Insurance for International Students’. I believe that you will need proof you have insurance coverage of a minimum of €25,000 for accident and €25,000 for disease, and for any stays in hospital.
Gary J. Lindwurm
My wife and I will be moving to Roscommon on May 30th. We are looking for medical insurance.
Our mailing address will be:
XXX
My wife, Bride XX was born in Ireland but has lived in the US (Florida) since we were married in 1973.
She will be considered as a returning citizen. I, Gary XX will be living here for the first time. We both have both Irish and US citizenship. We also currently have US Medicare insurance policies.
My email address is XX
Our home phone is XX. Bride may be calling you tomorrow.
Thanks for your help,
Gary
Colleen
Hi Gary,
I’ve edited your comments to remove your personal details because you really don’t want to post them online as someone could easily use them to steal your identity.
As Irish citizens you will have access to the Irish Health Services. However if you wish to purchase health insurance, then the companies available in Ireland are listed in this post. You can go online to each of them and get an online quote (you can also ring them) to help you decide which is the best package for your personal circumstances.
A good website to use to guide your decision is The Health Insurance Authority, which is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market.
Good luck with the move
Colleen