Ireland Health Insurance for International Citizens

International Health Insurance for International Citizens Living in Ireland

Expats easily fall in love with the country’s English-language communication, exuberant culture, and overall friendliness. A whopping 7 out of 10 feel at home in Ireland. A further 2 out of 3 are satisfied with their job. Those are some of the best figures from any expat community in the world. However, not everything is rosy among Ireland’s expats, especially when it comes to the weather – 66% don’t love it – and the cost of living. Just 6% rate the quality of the country’s healthcare as “very good”. A big part of their assessment is in the price. If you’re considering a move, here’s the lowdown on international health insurance for foreigners living in Ireland.

Overview of Ireland’s Public Health Insurance System

While expats may have their frustrations, the standards of healthcare that Ireland has to offer are very high. It’s also much more affordable than other countries, including the United States. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s free. Granted, nearly 40% of the population receives medical care at absolutely no cost. This is known as Category 1 or “Irish Medical Card” care. A further 9% or so qualify for the GP Visit Card, which provides free doctors visits but not the free tests and prescriptions. But the remainder of the population or “Category 2”, must pay at each medical appointment. Though the prices are heavily subsidized by the government, the costs of paying for each appointment and test do add up.

Geographical Concerns and Cost of Living

The greatest concentration of Ireland’s hospitals and specialists is in the cities, including Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Cork. However, the cost of living in the cities is high compared to small villages. Housing costs and the general cost of living in small villages is a fraction of Dublin prices, but there might only be one practicing GP for the entire community. Specialist appointments and diagnostic tests at hospitals require a commute of several hours. For expats, this is a frustrating quandary.

Read: The Cost of Living in Ireland (InternationalCitizens.com)

Ireland’s Healthcare System Pros and Cons

The best part about using the local health insurance system is that it is affordable and, in general, offers excellent care. It’s hard to argue with that combination! Ireland offers one of the highest standards of public healthcare in the world and it offers good value to users.

However, patients requiring non-urgent care often have to wait to receive it. The waiting lists to see specialists are long and only growing longer. As well, if you live in a rural area and require special care, you may need to travel to a city hospital to receive the treatment you need. Sometimes those appointments come up without much notice and making arrangements to attend is disruptive. Private health insurance in Ireland can significantly cut down on wait times. It also eliminates the need to always be on standby for a cancellation spot. As well, private health insurance offers treatment in facilities that are more comfortable and more private.

How Expats Can Qualify For Irish Health Insurance

Everyone who has legal papers – including those with employment permits, people seeking asylum, and students – and intends to live the country for more than one year can apply for a Medical Card or GP Visit Card. The biggest mistake that expats make is assuming they aren’t eligible. There are a lot of factors that go into determining who is eligible and it’s well worth it to apply.

The country prides itself on having an open and easy process for accessing the health care Ireland has to offer, and other government services but the reality is that there is still plenty of paperwork involved for relocating expats.

What Foreigners Living in Ireland Need To Know About Paperwork

In order to receive publicly funded health services, you need to prove to the HSE that you are an “ordinary resident”. This means you must demonstrate that you intend to remain in the country for a minimum of one year.

Some of the proof you will have to provide includes:

Proof of property purchase or rental, including evidence that the property in question is the person’s principal residence.
Evidence of transfer of funds, bank accounts, pensions, etc…
A residence permit or visa.
A work permit or visa, statements from employers, etc.
A signed affidavit by the applicant.

Submitting Your Application

Step one is to visit your local health center and get an application. Complete your form and bring it to the GP of your choice. Assuming they accept you as a patient, they will sign off on your form. Then it’s time to gather the documents listed above, which prove you’re an “ordinary resident.” Employers have to sign the form to certify your earnings. But for self-employed people, like digital nomad expats, you must include your most recent tax assessment form and audited accounts. Essentially, you have to prove that you are gainfully employed – albeit by yourself – and are sufficiently supporting yourself. The last step is to bring all the documents back to your local health center.

It sounds like a lot of work – and it is! But a thorough chat with the health center staff at the beginning will answer all your questions and make the process as easy as possible.

If you’re not eligible for the Medical Card system, your application will automatically be reassessed for eligibility for the GP Visit Card system. Should you qualify for neither, you’ll be informed by mail and there will be information about what to do if you feel some aspect of your application was unfairly assessed.

Related: How to Become a Citizen of Ireland

Benefits of a Global Health Insurance Plan

Within Ireland, there is limited competition among private health insurance companies. Only four companies offer private health insurance. Irish Life Health, Laya Healthcare, VHI Healthcare offer full coverage and HSF offers a cash benefit plan. Private health insurance is regulated by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA). Purchasing a global health insurance plan before you move gives you greater flexibility and value than having to choose among the four main companies within the country.

Best Private Global Health Insurance Plans for International Citizens in Ireland

International private health insurance offers a few additional benefits over and above local Irish plans. First and foremost, they offer global coverage and will insure you anywhere in the world. Additionally, they are designed to be more comprehensive and provide you with access to a wider variety of healthcare facilities and doctors. For expatriates moving to Ireland, we would recommend two options. First, the Cigna Global Medical Plan is a top global insurer with great service and benefits. Cigna Global offers a modular plan design allowing you to pick and choose different modules to tailor the plan to your needs and budget. The second suggested plan, primarily for US citizens living in Ireland, would be the GeoBlue Xplorer plan, which offers similar benefits and services to Cigna. GeoBlue Xplorer is offered in association with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of America and comes with the excellent BCBS network of doctors and hospitals and the highest quality of doctors worldwide. For other options, view our list of the best global medical health insurance companies.

Best Insurance for US Citizens Living in Ireland

Xplorer Worldwide Medical Plan

Premium Benefits, Coverage and Service
Define your deductible and prescription benefits
For Foreigners in the US or US Citizens Abroad

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Best Global Medical Plan for All Foreigners Living in Ireland

Cigna Global Insurance Plan

The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
Access to Cigna Global’s network of trusted hospitals, clinics, and doctors
The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service

Plan Details | View Brochure

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How To Find A Family Physician or GP in Ireland

Even if you are still awaiting your Medical Card or are lacking sufficient paperwork, you can still see a GP in Ireland, provided that you’re willing to pay. Finding a GP is a matter of personal research and location. Many expats ask their friends and new colleagues for recommendations for a general practitioner. Others might speak to their neighborhood pharmacy or community center staff to see if they have any suggestions for practitioners nearby. Some GPs only take on patients through the Medical Card system, while others mix it up between them and private patients.

GPs can refuse to take on new patients, especially if they are over capacity. If you are unable to find a doctor who is willing to take you on and you’ve had at least three GPs refuse to enroll you as a patient, don’t despair. The Health Service Executive (HSE) will assign you a doctor.

How Routine Doctor Visits Work

In Ireland, a general practitioner, or GP, is a doctor who works from a clinic or office environment, rather than a hospital. Each GP’s practice has its own opening times and holiday policies. Some work by walk-in visits only. Others have a strict appointment-only plan, while others mix it up.

If you do not have a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card or you are not under 6 or over 70 or do not meet some other special requirement, you will have to pay for your visit. A GP visit usually costs between 40 and 70 Euros.

Seeing a GP is essential if you need specialist care or have pre-existing conditions. You must first be assessed by your GP who will then refer you to the appropriate person or hospital department. Depending on how urgent your needs are and where you are located, you might have to be on a waitlist before you get an appointment. Some regions have fewer specialists than others and this contributes to the wait times.

Related: Hospitals in Ireland

A Note About Sexual Health Care

Sexual health care remains a sensitive topic in Ireland. Expats are often surprised to learn that pharmacists cannot dispense contraception without a prescription from an Irish GP. As well, GPs can only prescribe just six month’s worth at a time. There is an alternative if you use an online Irish pharmacy, which will cost about 25 Euros, but this method doesn’t allow you to have a face to face consultation with a doctor. This is one area of healthcare where it pays to plan ahead as much as possible.