Mandy B. Says:
I’m getting dual citizenship with my Irish passport as an American citizen. I plan to move over there within the year. What do I need to do as far as health insurance is concerned?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Mandy,
One of the perceived benefits of moving to Ireland is the opportunity to avail of free public hospital treatment. And it is a benefit. Whatever your nationality or income bracket, if you are “ordinarily resident” in Ireland and require hospital treatment, you will not have to pay for it. Or may have to pay a nominal fee for extended hospital stays—but nothing like the U.S.
However, this public system has its problems. Namely long wait times for non-emergency procedures. So, many residents of Ireland opt for private health insurance in order to see a doctor faster.
There are three companies in Ireland offering private health insurance to individuals; VHI, Aviva, and Laya. They all offer a broadly similar choice of health plans. You should take a look at all of the companies’ plans, terms, and conditions before committing to one. There are over 160 different plans to choose from.
Although the cost of insurance in Ireland has increased rapidly over the past few years, it is, in comparison to many other countries, particularly North America, reasonably affordable
Insurers are obliged by law to accept any applicant who wishes to purchase health insurance. They cannot discriminate on age or health status (open enrollment ). They cannot terminate a policy contract against the will of the insured person (lifetime cover). They must apply the same premium for a given level of cover regardless of the age or health status presented by the insured (community rating); and policies must offer a minimum benefit level prescribed by law.
Hope that helps! Best of luck on your move to Ireland. If you’d like to share your story with our readers once you make the move, be sure to contact me.
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