Over the recent years, expats from all over the world have been exploring opportunities to live and work in Ireland, thanks to the country’s robust economic growth. Among the many benefits is access to public health insurance for expats in Ireland. Read on to learn about the eligibility criteria, services provided, and available alternative arrangements.
Like many other countries, Ireland’s healthcare system consists of the public and private sectors. To be eligible for state-funded coverage, one needs to meet certain criteria, but anyone can be insured privately, including through international health insurance, in Ireland.
Public healthcare
Funded through the Irish taxation, the state healthcare system provides the population with subsidised and free services. There are different opinions on whether this is the best health insurance in Ireland, but it is available to anyone, regardless of nationality, who qualifies as ‘ordinarily resident’; that is, who has been living or intends to live in Ireland for at least a year. A respective visa usually proves its holder’s eligibility for public health insurance for expats in Ireland.
The public system operates on two levels, each with a different set of free/subsidised services. The access to cheap health insurance in Ireland is means-tested. Depending on your level of income, you may be eligible for one of the following:
Medical card. Lower income limits. Full coverage of inpatient and outpatient care, including specialised services (dental, optical, and aural).
GP Visit card. Higher income limits. GP services are provided free of charge, but specialised care needs to be paid for.
The weekly income rates are calculated as gross income less tax, Universal Social Charge, and Social Insurance (PRSI). For the purposes of getting public health insurance for expats in Ireland, there are also some allowable expenses, which include but are not limited to:
Childcare costs
Rent/mortgage payments
Insurance (mortgage protection, home insurance, etc.)
The current income limits are presented in the table.
Weekly income rates rates for under-70s (in EUR)
| Category | Medical card, age under 66 | Medical card, age 66-70 | GP Visit card, age under 70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person living alone | 184 | 202 | 418 |
| Single person living with family | 164 | 174 | 373 |
| Couple, married/cohabiting/civil partners (or single parent with dependent children) | 267 | 298 | 607 |
Non-EU nationals who seek the best health insurance in Ireland should consider some caveats:
Students and retirees coming from outside the EU are not eligible for state-funded healthcare and must obtain private medical insurance in Ireland. In fact, this is one of the requirements for visa issuance.
Dependants of third-country nationals are not automatically covered by the public health insurance in Ireland. They need to meet the criteria themselves.
Ukrainian nationals residing in the country under the Temporary Protection scheme are entitled to a Medical card to ensure their access to cheap health insurance in Ireland.
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Drug payment scheme
Ordinarily, residents covered by the health insurance for expats in Ireland have the right to participate in the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS). It puts a cap on the amount spent each month on approved prescribed drugs and some appliances. After you have registered with the DPS at a pharmacy, the maximum monthly amount you or your family pay is €80; anything in excess is covered by the state, which is another evidence of how cheap health insurance can be in Ireland.
Private healthcare
A major drawback of Irish public healthcare is long waiting times and overcrowded facilities. Therefore, despite all the healthcare benefits offered by the state, 47% of residents turn to the private sector for the best health insurance in Ireland – more than anywhere else in Europe. Private medical insurance in Ireland is available from four major providers:
Irish Life Health
Laya Healthcare
VHI Healthcare
HSF Health Plan.
Some expats opt to be covered by an international health insurance in Ireland, purchased in their home country and enabling them to get care globally. If such an arrangement is convenient for your lifestyle, you might also want to try Profee for your international money transfers from Ireland, which provides a similar level of convenience and security.
Under private health insurance in Ireland, the minimum covered level in inpatient plans usually includes a semi-private room in a public hospital (depending on availability) and services such as inpatient and hospital outpatient treatments, maternity benefits, recovery, and psychiatric treatment. However, the range of services can be different in cash plans, outpatient-only plans, or international health insurance plans in Ireland. There are also limited contracts covering specific health services like dental or optical care. A free comparison tool is available online to help navigate the health insurance landscape in Ireland.
In most cases, the companies settle expenses for inpatient care directly with the hospital but require you to pay for outpatient services and then claim reimbursement. Before getting any kind of service, including registering with a GP, you must confirm that this service/practice is covered by your private medical insurance in Ireland. Otherwise, you may have to pay for the treatment yourself.
One of the factors that makes private healthcare look like the best health insurance option in Ireland is universal charges. The so-called ‘community rating’ ensures that neither age, sex, health status, nor medical history affect the premium: the same services cost the same to all adults. Rates can be lower for people under 25 or those in group health insurance schemes; charges for children must be 50% or less of the adult ones. At the same time, if you obtain your first insurance at 35 years or older, there is ‘loading’, a 2% increase in price for each insured year (10 years maximum).
Private health insurance for expats in Ireland enables tax relief at the standard rate of 20%. The limits are €1,000 for adults and €500 for children. This benefit ensures you get the best health insurance in Ireland but also save money, which is important, for example, if you have a family to financially support back home. For even bigger savings, use Profee for your instant money transfers to 60+ destinations at the best rates.
To sum up, health insurance for expats in Ireland is flexible enough to suit your specific needs. Whether you choose the practical value of public healthcare or prefer a more personalised approach of the private sector, you can have peace of mind and a sense of security. And, of course, use Profee to get the same when sending money abroad. Visit www.profee.com or get the Android/iOS app to enjoy the multiple benefits and even earn money with Profee’s referral programme.
