FAQ

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.

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.