Several of our visitors from the United Kingdom are unsure whether or not they require travel insurance for their trip to Ireland. The quick answer is that trip insurance isn’t necessary, but each visitor’s coverage requirements are different. The UK and Irish governments have reached an agreement that allows UK people to travel to Ireland for short visits without having to show their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The United Kingdom’s plan to leave the European Union is still being worked out, and this could affect the EHIC need in the future. Foreign visitors to Southern Ireland who prefer to have a medical policy to assist fill in any gaps in coverage might consider purchasing a medical travel insurance package.
Is travel insurance necessary for Ireland?
Yes, you’ll need travel insurance for a trip to Ireland, just as you would for any other vacation abroad. While travel insurance for Ireland is not required by law for UK citizens, it can help you reclaim non-refundable travel and lodging costs if you have to cancel your trip due to illness. It may also be able to compensate you if your luggage is lost or delayed in transit. Even though Ireland is only a short flight away, these incidents might leave you out of pocket by hundreds or thousands of pounds if you don’t have travel insurance.
It seems like a simple decision when the average cost of cheap travel insurance for Ireland is around £5 from the cheapest travel insurance companies for Irelandroughly the cost of a pint of Guinness. Get travel insurance for Ireland as well, just in case.
Travel insurance coverage differs slightly based on whether you’re visiting Northern Ireland or Southern Ireland. Because Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, vacations there are often viewed as being within your “home region,” which means that emergency medical bills would not be covered by travel insurance because you have access to the NHS, just like the rest of the UK.
Do you need travel insurance to go to Ireland from UK?
Throughout the year, travelers flock to the Emerald Isle for weekend city breaks and all-season retreats, and it packs a lot of action and culture into such a little country. Do you, however, require travel insurance in order to visit?
To begin, some terminology must be clarified. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are referred to as the United Kingdom, whereas Great Britain exclusively refers to England, Scotland, and Wales. So someone who resides in Belfast is a member of the United Kingdom, but not of the United Kingdom.
So, do visitors from the United Kingdom require travel insurance to visit Northern Ireland? Is a holiday insurance policy required for visitors from the United Kingdom to visit the Republic of Ireland?
It may appear difficult, but it is actually rather simple. They do, in fact. In fact, it’s beneficial for UK residents to get insurance even if they’re vacationing within their own nation – see why you need travel insurance for UK vacations.
It’s even more important if you’re traveling internationally, which includes anywhere in Ireland for British people. Whether you’re traveling for pleasure or business, travel insurance can protect you from losses, theft, cancellations, and delays that may occur while on the road.
The Euro is the currency of the Republic of Ireland. Euros are one of the numerous currencies available on the Post Office Travel Money Card, which you may use to access your vacation funds while you’re away.
Healthcare for Brits in Ireland
What you’ll need will vary depending on where you’re going on Ireland’s island.
The NHS in Northern Ireland operates in the same way that it does in Scotland, England, and Wales. If you’re visiting the Republic of Ireland, however, you’ll require a valid UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) or a valid European Health Insurance Card (Ehic). These provide you access to the same medical care as Irish citizens.
If you’ve misplaced your Ghic or Ehic, being able to demonstrate that you live in the UK can help. To obtain a Provisional Replacement, contact the Health Overseas Healthcare Team (+44 191 218 1999).
There are several essential topics Ghic and Ehic will not discuss. Medical repatriation and some of the more expensive aspects of emergency medical assistance, such as airlifts, are not covered. As a result, it’s critical to get adequate holiday insurance in case the worst happens.
Travel risks in Ireland
Ireland is regarded as a safe destination. Visitors are encouraged to take the same precautions they would in London against pickpocketing and bag theft when visiting big cities like Dublin. Anyone who has been a victim of crime in Ireland can call the Irish Tourist Assistance Service, which is designed to assist travellers in this situation.
Irish culture
Ireland has a long and illustrious history. Garda (police), Mná (women), and Fir (fire) are a few words to keep an eye out for (men). So be cautious: the word “Mná” on the toilet is not a misspelling of “men.”
Ireland has a lot of live music, especially in major nightlife places like Dublin, and it’s usually high-quality folk music. There’s nothing like music to make you feel like you’ve immersed yourself in a culture, and thankfully, it’s practically inevitable on a night out in Dublin.
Galway will be the European Capital of Culture in 2020, and the county – and Ireland as a whole – will be inundated in cultural activities of all kinds. The year promises a fascinating assortment of activities for visitors, from travelling theatre to installations, concerts to events that defy description.
Major cities in the Republic of Ireland are often more expensive than those in the United Kingdom, with prices equivalent to and occasionally exceeding those in London. A pint of beer might cost anything from 7-8. Shop prices, on the other hand, tend to be similar. Dublin is around £40 more expensive for a weekend visit than London, according to the Post Office City Costs Barometer.
Getting around
Ireland’s public transportation is quite comparable to that of the United Kingdom, including bus and train systems that are very similar.
Driving in Ireland is likewise extremely comparable to driving in the United Kingdom. Make sure you have your driver’s license, as well as your VC5 (logbook) and information about your auto insurance and road tax, with you at all times. In 2011, the drinking and driving limit was lowered to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for fully certified drivers (20mg/100ml for new, trainee, and professional drivers), which is lower than the English standard of 80mg per 100ml.
However, determining how much you’ve drunk and how it relates to drink-drive regulations is never easy. As a result, even if you’ve only had a tiny amount of alcohol, it’s never a good idea to drive after drinking. In Ireland, the penalties for exceeding the legal limit are harsh, and Gardai conduct random testing.
Travel insurance for Ireland
While it may be tempting to believe that the Republic of Ireland is the same as the rest of the United Kingdom, keep in mind that it is not, and that it is more like a European country in terms of vacationing.
Because the Republic of Ireland is a member of the European Union, your EHIC card will be useful if you become ill; nevertheless, as previously said, this is no substitute for excellent travel insurance. Travel insurance is an important element of travelling abroad, whether it’s for medical repatriation, your hotel canceling your reservation, or your airline losing your bags.
If your UK employer has sent you to Ireland temporarily (‘posted workers’)
A posted worker is someone who is hired or self-employed in the United Kingdom but is sent to work in another country on a temporary basis.
You are entitled to necessary healthcare in Ireland as a posted worker, which is paid for by the UK.
In Ireland, not all public healthcare is free, and you may have to pay for services that would otherwise be free under the NHS.
Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in the United Kingdom (EHIC)
2 recent documents proving your UK address (for example, a bank statement or utility bill).
You may also be required to submit documents demonstrating the type and duration of your assignment.
National Insurance questions from non-UK citizens can be directed to HMRC’s helpline. They can answer any questions you have regarding your position as a posted worker and explain the documentation you’ll need to access healthcare while you’re there.
If you’re studying in Ireland
To access medically essential, state-provided healthcare for the duration of your study period in Ireland, whether it is for part or all of your course, you need apply for a Student GHIC. This means you’ll be able to access vital healthcare on the same terms as an Irish citizen, either for free or at a reduced cost.
If you already have a valid Student EHIC, you can continue to use it until it expires.
If you’re a UK resident living and studying in Ireland, you’re eligible to UK-funded ‘essential healthcare.’
2 recent documents proving your UK address (for example, a bank statement or utility bill).
A note from your educational institution confirming your enrollment in studies may also be required.
If you were living in Ireland before 1 January 2021
If you’ve lived in Ireland since before January 1, 2021, you can be eligible for a UK-funded Irish medical card if you’re an Irish resident and:
a frontier worker (someone who works in one state but lives in another) who started working on the border in the UK before January 1, 2021
Do I need medical insurance in Ireland?
In Ireland, private health insurance is an option. You are eligible to public in-patient and out-patient hospital services if you are ordinarily resident in Ireland. This implies you won’t have to pay for private health insurance to use the hospital. More information on establishing ordinary residency can be found here.
If you do not purchase private health insurance, you are entitled to public hospital care based on clinical need.
You can use public health services even if you have private health insurance. If your GP recommends you to a specialized consultant in a hospital, for example, you can choose whether you wish to be treated in the public or private system. Similarly, if you are admitted to the hospital, you must specify whether you wish to be treated as a public or private patient.
Do I have to quarantine if I go to Ireland?
Before boarding a flight or taking a boat to Ireland, everyone arriving must fill out a Passenger Locator Form.
- An EUDigital COVID Certificate (DCC) demonstrating that you have been fully immunized with an EMA-approved vaccine, or that you have recovered from COVID-19, or that you have been fully vaccinated with an EMA-approved vaccine.
- Other acceptable documentation that you have been fully immunized with an approved vaccine, or that you have recovered from COVID-19, or that you have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine
- Proof of a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of your arrival.
Children under the age of 11 are excluded from the testing requirements, and there are a few minor exceptions.
Vaccination certificates for primary vaccination series will no longer be accepted for travel after 270 days (9 months) have passed since the last dose in the primary vaccine series. Vaccine certificates for booster and subsequent doses have no expiration date.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or are in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, you should seek medical care.
Can I use NHS in Ireland?
You can access ‘required healthcare’ from state healthcare services in Ireland if you’re habitually living in the UK.
‘Necessary healthcare’ refers to medical care that becomes necessary during your stay and that you cannot reasonably wait to have once you return to the UK.
This includes treatment for a pre-existing or chronic ailment that is medically required. Some treatments, such as renal dialysis or chemotherapy, will need to be pre-arranged with the appropriate healthcare practitioner in Ireland.
It does not cover treatments for which you travel to Ireland explicitly.
This is not intended to be a substitute for travel insurance. Before you go on your trip, be sure you have travel insurance.
Is healthcare free in Dublin?
Everyone in Ireland is entitled to health care through the public health care system, which is run by the Health Service Executive and supported by general taxes and service fees that are subsidized. All maternity services and child care for children under the age of six are free. If you haven’t seen a doctor first, an emergency visit to an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department will cost you 100.
The Medical Card, which enables holders to free hospital care, GP visits, dental services, optical services, aural services, prescription drugs, and medical appliances, is available to welfare recipients, low-income workers, many pensioners, and others under specific circumstances. The only medical situations that automatically qualify for a card are thalidomide syndrome, surgical symphysiotomy, and cancer in children. Many political parties favor expanding the Medical Card’s availability to cover all residents of Ireland it presently covers 31.9 percent of the population. A ‘GP Visit Card,’ which permits the holder to free general practitioner visits, is available to those with slightly higher salaries. People over the age of 70 who do not qualify for a medical GP visit card can instead get a 400 annual cash award up to a particular income level.
People without a Medical Card (about 68.1 percent of the population) are required to pay fees for certain health care services. If you go to an accident and emergency department without a recommendation letter from a family doctor (a visit to which normally costs 4575, though some practices offer prices as low as 25-35 for over-65s and students), you will be charged 100. Inpatient hospital charges are a set sum of 80 per day, up to a maximum of 800 per calendar year, regardless of the actual care received. Specialist and diagnostic evaluations (such as X-rays, laboratory testing, physiotherapy, and so on) are supplied at no cost. The HSE will give services free of charge to anyone who cannot afford to pay hospital fees. Individuals and families are eligible for subsidies for recognized prescription pharmaceuticals, medicines, and certain appliances under the Drugs Payment Scheme, and spend no more than 124 per month per household. To be eligible, a patient must have a Drugs Payment Scheme Card, which is available to anyone who does not have a Medical Card.
Everyone who lives in Ireland, as well as visitors who have a European Health Insurance Card, is eligible to access the public healthcare system. British nationals do not need an EHIC card under the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements and can instead provide their NHS number, NHS card, driving license, or other proof of residence within the CTA. Outpatient services are also available at no cost. The majority of patients with median salaries or more are forced to pay hospital charges that are subsidized.
Do EU citizens get free healthcare in Ireland?
Visitors from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland If you have an EHIC card, you can receive free medical treatment in Ireland. The EHIC only covers public healthcare; it does not cover private treatment. When visiting Ireland, you should bring your European Health Insurance Card with you.
Is Ireland’s healthcare good?
Ireland’s healthcare is of very high quality, with public satisfaction ratings of 90% for outpatient and 85% for inpatient services. General Practitioners are almost completely satisfied, with a score of 97 percent.
Despite this, there are still issues with Ireland’s health-care system. The most serious of these is long surgical treatment waiting lists. All those who are considered to be “usually resident” in Ireland are eligible to healthcare through the public system.