Ireland Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Ireland

Expats moving to Ireland should consider international health insurance despite the country’s excellent public healthcare offerings as it guarantees access to high-quality care whenever and wherever needed. Similarly, travelers should secure travel insurance before their trip to the Emerald Isle.

Are you considering moving to Ireland? This guide will explain Ireland’s healthcare system, outline the best health international insurance plans for expats in Ireland, and provide handy travel tips for the area.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Ireland

Private Health Insurance Coverage for Expats in Ireland

International health insurance allows expats in Ireland to receive comprehensive, flexible medical care around the globe. These plans are designed for expats and long-term travelers, so they cater to the needs of those living abroad through customizable, portable coverage.

Because these plans are flexible, with options for basic coverage, riders for benefits of your choice, or comprehensive care, expats can choose care just for what they want. Most plans do include options for:

• Inpatient care
• Outpatient care
• Vision services
• Dental services
• Maternity services
• Preventative care

While Ireland provides free or subsidized healthcare to all those who have lived or plan to live in Ireland for at least one year, up to 40% of individuals in Ireland opt for private health insurance.

The Healthcare System in Ireland

Ireland has a government-funded public healthcare system that is available to all residents, regardless of citizenship or payment into the Irish tax system. It is free to about 30% of the population and subsidized for the rest.

Private healthcare in Ireland is accessible to those who can pay upfront or have a private health insurance plan. As much as 40% of the population chooses private healthcare to avoid overbooked hospitals and for more flexibility when choosing a provider.

The Public Sector in Ireland

Ireland offers top-notch healthcare but is often criticized for being overcrowded and overbooked. While the public healthcare system is much more affordable than its private counterpart, only about a third of the population has a medical card and can access various healthcare services for free.

To qualify for public healthcare in Ireland, you must be considered ordinarily resident, meaning you have either lived in Ireland for at least a year or you intend to live there for a year or more.

Even though the country is considered to have universal coverage, free health services are only for those who hold a medical card. To qualify for a medical card, you must complete a means test, which assesses your finances, such as income, savings, and investments.

Note that non-EU nationals who establish eligibility for free health services do not receive automatic eligibility for their dependents.

If you do not qualify for a medical card, you may qualify for a GP card, which allows you free visits to certain family doctors.

An Irish resident will only get full eligibility for health services if they hold a valid medical card.

Those with a medical card gain free access to:

• GP services
• Prescribed medications and drugs, though individuals may be charged for each prescribed item
• Services at public hospitals
• Maternity and newborn care
• Community and social services care
• Ear and eye tests
• Dental checks
• Routine blood tests

Those without medical cards can still access many community and hospital medical services free of charge or at a reduced cost. As of April 2023, there are no hospital charges for public inpatient or day service care. Some may pay for outpatient and emergency care without a GP referral.

Public Hospitals in Ireland

Some of Ireland’s top public hospitals include St. Vincent’s University Hospital, St. James Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, the Cork Group, and Clontarf.

1. St. Vincent’s University Hospital is one of the leading academic hospitals and provides acute, chronic, and emergency care across 50 specialties and its multi-hospital campus.
2. St. James Hospital is located in Dublin, providing acute, emergency, and specialist services, and is one of the 8 cancer adult cancer centers in the country.
3. Beaumont Hospital is the principal teaching hospital for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. They offer about 820 beds and a staff of approximately 3,000 individuals.
4. Cork University Hospital Group is made up of 3 acute hospitals, 2 community inpatient facilities, a nursing home, and several outpatient units.
5. Clontarf Hospital opened in 1876 as The Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland. It has changed locations and grown several times since, with its state-of-the-art facility being completed in 2009.

The Private Sector in Ireland

Ireland’s private healthcare sector is a thriving one, with a range of hospitals on offer, but charges are usually quite high. Those without private health insurance may be asked to pay a deposit in advance.

Private Hospitals in Ireland

1. Beacon Hospital offers some of the most advanced medical technology in Europe. They are a full-service acute hospital offering 181 inpatient beds, 80 day-case beds, and 8 operating theatres.
2. Bon Secours Health System is Ireland’s largest independent hospital group. It is comprised of 5 acute hospitals in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Tralee, and Dublin as well as a care clinic in Cork.
3. St. Vincent’s Private Hospital is the single largest acute hospital found in Dublin. They share resources with the public St. Vincent’s University Hospital and are located on the same grounds.

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Ireland

Even with free and subsidized healthcare, many Irish residents choose private health insurance. Expats who plan to stay in Ireland for an extended stay may want to consider international health insurance while those who are only visiting briefly may choose travel insurance.

Private Insurance in Ireland

The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) regulates the private health insurance market in Ireland. This market includes Irish Life Health, Laya Healthcare, and Vhi Healthcare. Individuals can still purchase international health insurance on their own or through a professional broker like Pacific Prime.

Irish residents typically take out a private health insurance plan if they are not medical card holders, prefer private healthcare over the public alternative, or want to avoid lengthy wait times without paying out of pocket.

The Best Private Insurance Providers for Expats in Ireland

Some of the best international health insurance providers for expats in Ireland include Cigna, Allianz, Now Health International, MSH International, and AXA.

Cigna

Cigna offers flexible plans for expats in Ireland with access to private and public hospitals as well as customer support 24/7. With Cigna’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans, expats can choose what level of coverage works for them and their budget.

All three levels of coverage offer the following benefits:

• Worldwide coverage
• Mental health care
• Inpatient coverage
• Day-patient coverage
• Cancer care
• Newborn care
• Hospital stays
• Private room coverage
• Hospital treatments

Expats who choose one of Cigna’s plans can also choose to include:

• Dental benefits
• Outpatient coverage
• Health and wellbeing coverage
• Evacuation and Crisis Assistance Plus™

Cigna’s Silver plan starts with an annual limit of USD $1,000,000 with the Gold plan bumping up to USD $2,000,000, and the Platinum plan offering the highest coverage with an unlimited annual cap.

Allianz

Choose between Allianz’s Care, Care Plus, and Care Pro plans to gain access to one of the largest international health insurance providers on the market. All three plans cover the basic benefits of:

• A semi-private inpatient room
• A semi-private day-care hospital room
• Oncology care
• Medication evacuation
• Nursing at home care
• Rehabilitation treatment
• Emergency outpatient treatment

Allianz’s Care plan has an annual limit of USD $2,500,000, with the Care Plus plan increasing to USD $4,000,000, and the Care Pro plan up to $5,000,000.

AXA

AXA offers five international health insurance plans: Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus. Evacuation and repatriation come standard with AXA’s plans, and they offer second medical opinions and virtual doctor services. The annual limits for each plan are:

• Foundation: $160,000
• Standard: $1,600,000
• Comprehensive: $2,400,000
• Prestige: $3,200,000
• Prestige Plus: $8,000,000

NOW Health International

NOW Health International offers its comprehensive WorldCare plan with four coverage options and its more affordable SimpleCare plan with three coverage options. Both the WorldCare and SimpleCare plans cover:

• Cancer treatment
• Day-patient surgery
• Out-patient surgery

The SimpleCare plan offers an annual limit of USD $1,500,000 while the WorldCare plan offers an annual limit of USD $4,500,000.

MSH International

MSH International offers four different types of coverage through their First’Expat+ plan: Hospi, Health, Health+, and Health+Child. Choose additional customization for annual limits and benefits through their Quartz, Pearl, Sapphire, and Diamond options.

Plans with a Quartz selection offer annual limits at USD $625,000, with Pearl selections at USD $1,250,000, Sapphire selections at USD $2,000,000, and Diamond at USD $3,750,000.

Health and Safety Tips for Travelers in Ireland

In general, most visits to Ireland are trouble-free, including for female and LGBT visitors. Travelers are advised to take all necessary precautions, such as keeping an eye on belongings when in crowded areas. Keep reading for more travel guidelines for Ireland.

Check Visa Requirements

Ireland is not part of the Schengen travel area, so non-EU/EEA visitors are advised to check the necessary visa requirements prior to travel. For some nationalities, UK tourist visas are also valid in Ireland under the country’s Short Stay Visa Waiver Program.

Emergency Preparedness for Travelers to Ireland

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) provides free support to victims of crimes, liaising with travel companies and financial institutions and, in emergencies, arranging for accommodation and transport.

Visitors should first go to the local police station for any crimes committed. For emergency services, you can contact 112 or 999.

Health Insurance for Your Stay in Ireland

For short-term visitors from the EU/EEA, you can access healthcare in Ireland using your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Other short-term visitors should take out a travel insurance plan and include an emergency evacuation rider if they need emergency transport to care outside Ireland.

To find the best travel insurance, check out this article on the top five travel insurance providers.

Conclusion: Compare Plans and Quotes

Pacific Prime offers our insurance quote generator obligation-free so that travelers and expats can find, compare, and save their favorite international health insurance plans and quotes all in one place.

Use this tool to compare over 50,000 plans without the hassle of going to each insurance company's website, saving you time, stress, and even money.

Get started now or speak with one of our insurance assistants to receive expert advice. You can also call us at 1-800-868-1451.

Recommended Reads

• Foreign Visitors’ Health Insurance Guide
• Finding the Best Worldwide Medical Insurance Coverage
• Living Abroad? What to Know About Health Insurance