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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General questions

Can anyone buy private health insurance?

Yes. Any person who is ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland can buy health insurance regardless of age, gender, health status or medical history. However, you may have to serve waiting periods when you first buy health insurance.

Will my age affect the cost of my policy?

Generally, no. The health insurance system in Ireland adopts what is called Lifetime Community Rating. This means that everyone who buys a particular health insurance policy pays the same amount regardless of age, gender, health status or medical history. However, there are some exceptions:

  • If you buy health insurance for the first time when you are aged 35 or over, or if you have a break in health insurance cover of longer than 13 weeks while you are aged 35 or over, you will have to pay an additional Lifetime Community Rating loading on top of the cost of your policy.
  • The cost of a policy can be reduced by up to 10% for members of group schemes.
  • The cost of a policy for children must be no more than 50% of the adult premium.
  • The cost of a policy for those aged 18-25 may be reduced.
  • The cost of a policy for pensioners who are members of restricted membership insurers can be reduced.

Buying and renewing health insurance

Can an insurer refuse to sell me insurance or renew my policy because of a medical condition?

No. Anyone can buy health insurance regardless of age, gender, health status or medical history. However, you may have to serve waiting periods when you first buy health insurance or when you move to a policy with higher benefits.

Can I buy a company or corporate policy even if I am not an employee?

Yes.

Public health services

Do I have to pay for treatment in a public hospital as a public patient?

No. As of April 2023, if you are admitted to a public hospital as a public patient, there is no charge for treatment.

Do I have to use my private health insurance if I am admitted to a public hospital?

No. When you are admitted to the hospital, the hospital may ask you to sign a public hospital waiver form. If you sign this form, you will be treated as a private patient. If you don’t sign the form, you will be treated as a public patient.

How much do private patients have to pay in public hospitals?

Private patients are charged €659-€813 per night for a semi-private room, and €800-€1000 per night for a private room in addition to consultant fees. If you have private health insurance, your insurer may cover some or all of these costs depending on your level of cover.

What is the difference between public maternity care and private maternity care?

If you are pregnant and you are ordinarily resident in Ireland, you are entitled to free maternity care under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme. After you have your baby, your baby can also get some health checks, vaccinations, and developmental checks free of charge. For more information about the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme and what it covers, go to the Citizens Information Board website.

There are no private maternity hospitals in Ireland. Private health insurance covers some of the costs of private maternity services in a public hospital. A semi-private room costs up to €813 per night, and a private room costs up to €1,000 per night. Most health insurance policies cover three nights in a private room (subject to availability). However, some policies have limited cover or cover only a semi-private room. Your policy may also include a home birth grant of €2,000-€5,000. Depending on your level of cover, your health insurance may not fully cover the total cost of your stay in hospital.

All policies cover your inpatient delivery consultant’s fees. Policies with higher cover also cover the anaesthetist, pathology, and a paediatric consultation in hospital.

Outpatient private consultant fees, which cover routine visits to your consultant before the birth, may be partly covered by the pre- and post-natal benefit or the outpatient maternity consultant fees benefit in your policy. However, you should be prepared to pay a shortfall, as most policies cover only a portion of the fees, and the outpatient consultant fees may cost some several thousand euro more.

Will the hospital check if my procedure is covered by my health insurance policy?

No. If you are unsure, you should contact your insurer directly.

Prices, tax relief, and discounts

Can I claim tax relief on my health insurance?

If you pay your insurer directly for your health insurance, medical insurance tax relief is available at source and is applied by the insurer to reduce the gross cost of your policy. This means that the tax relief is automatically given as a discount on the cost of your policy. You don’t need to claim the tax relief from Revenue.

If your employer pays for your health insurance as a benefit-in-kind, you will be taxed on the gross value of your policy. This means you will need to claim medical insurance tax relief from Revenue

Can I claim tax relief on my medical costs that aren’t covered by my health insurance?

Yes. If you have health insurance, you can claim tax relief on the portion of your medical costs not covered by your insurer. For example, if you paid €60 for a GP visit and you already got €20 from your health insurance, you can claim tax relief on the remaining €40. You must keep copies of your receipts to claim back this tax relief. For more information, go to www.revenue.ie.

 

Can I get a group discount?

An insurer can offer a group discount of up to 10% on any policy to a group of people. Some insurers automatically include this discount in their prices. If an insurer has decided to automatically include this discount, it will be reflected in the price shown on our comparison tool. In most cases the price on our comparison tool does not include a discount. It is important to speak with the insurer directly before you buy a policy to understand how any part of the policy may be discounted.

Can I get student discount?

No. However, if you are aged 18-25 you may get a young adult rate on certain policies. You don’t need to be a student.

My insurer has increased the cost of my policy. Is that allowed?

Insurers decide the cost of their policies. The cost of the policy must be the same regardless of your age, except in the case where children and young adults may be entitled to discounts. If you are unhappy with the cost of your health insurance, you can switch policies or insurers at your renewal date. In some cases, your insurer may allow you to switch contracts during the term of your 12-month contract.

What is the community rating health insurance levy?

The health insurance system in Ireland is called Lifetime Community Rating. This means that everyone who buys a particular health insurance policy pays the same amount regardless of age, gender or medical history.

The Irish state supports the community-rated system by providing age-related health credits for older people and less healthy people to help meet the expected higher cost of health insurance for this group. These tax credits are funded by a health insurance levy (also referred to as Stamp Duty) paid by the insurers. The credits and levy are administered by the insurers and the Risk Equalisation Fund.

Complaints

How do I make a complaint?

If you have a complaint about your insurer or your health insurance policy, you should first speak directly to your insurer. If your complaint isn’t resolved after speaking to your insurer, you should contact the relevant regulator.