Medical Insurance in Dublin
This doesn’t mean that the public health system is of a lower standard; usually you will see the exact same consultant, but under the umbrella of private health insurance you see that consultant in the immediate future rather than the next decade.
Your first stop as an ill person in Ireland is your local General Practitioner or GP. This appointment usually costs between €50 and €60, excluding the extra expense of any prescribed medicine.
If something is seriously wrong, the GP will refer you to a hospital. There the choice is usually offered between public and private treatment and is usually based on how serious your illness is. So if you have a broken leg then you could be safely treated in the public system. But if you have a terminal illness, then private treatment is usually recommended.
Pre-existing conditions are not covered by insurance companies in Ireland, so it's best to register with a provider sooner rather than later.
Irish Health Insurance Companies
Most companies will offer a health insurance plan for expats relocating to Ireland, which should cover your family upon arrival. It’s important to examine the policies and premiums and evaluate if it is indeed best for your family before accepting.
The Health Insurance providers in Ireland are:
- VHI
- Hibernian
- Aviva
- Quinn Healthcare
Costs for each of the different plans vary tremendously depending on the acceptance of different excesses, preference for private or public hospitals, the number of children who are dependents, and what your health priorities are.
That being said, expats should expect to pay between €550 and €750.
