There are various forms of healthcare available if you’re living in Ireland and are a UK national, state healthcare in Ireland is available to a UK citizen on the same basis as an Irish citizen.
State health services are accessible even if you’re an ‘ordinary resident’ in Ireland. This basically means that you either intend to live or have lived in Ireland for at least a year.
There are some services that you will need to pay a fee for. However, the amount you might need to pay for the healthcare service depends on your circumstances.
Ways to get healthcare in Ireland
If you are an ordinary resident of Ireland, you will be able to access the Irish healthcare system in either one of the 2 ways:
- paying standard patient charges
- with a medical card
Payment of charges by some people may qualify them for a GP Visit card which would then entitle the person to free GP service.
If you are or have been temporarily living in Ireland but on a normal basis live in the UK, as an example let’s say if you are studying or have been posted to work in Ireland, there is a chance that you might qualify for the necessary healthcare paid for by the UK. An example of this would the UK EHIC Card or UK GHIC Card
UK-funded healthcare in Ireland
UK Nationals can avail or continue their healthcare in Ireland and have it paid for by the UK.
This could be possible under the following circumstances:
- currently living in Ireland and permanently live in the UK
- If you receive a UK State Pension or some other benefits
- If you are living in Ireland and working in the UK as a frontier worker
If your employer in the UK has temporarily sent you to Ireland (‘posted workers’)
An employed or self-employed person in the UK who has been temporarily sent to another country to work is known as a posted worker. Such a person is entitled to whatever healthcare they require and paid for by the UK.
There is some state healthcare where you may need to pay in Ireland and others that are available for free and paid by the UK.
You should keep the following in mind when you use a health service in Ireland, show one of the following alongside your photo ID:
- UK-issued Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
- UK driving licence
- UK biometric residence permit
- Northern Ireland voter’s card or medical card
- 2 documents showing your UK address (for example, a bank statement or utility bill), issued in the last 3 months
In certain cases you may also be asked to provide additional documentation to demonstrate the nature and length of your job posting in Ireland.
If you’re studying in Ireland
You should consider applying for a Student GHIC Card to make sure you get the necessary medical, state-provided healthcare for however long you plan to study in Ireland, whether get the coverage for part or the entire tenure of the course. This means that your UK GHIC card will provide you the necessary healthcare services that you might need on the same basis as an Irish citizen either for free or at a reduced cost depending on the situation.
A valid Student EHIC you can be used until the card expires.
Whenever you use a healthcare service, you will need to show one of the following alongside your photo ID:
- UK-issued Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
- UK driving licence
- UK biometric residence permit
- Northern Ireland voter’s card or medical card
- 2 documents showing your UK address (for example a bank statement or utility bill), issued in the last 3 months
In certain cases you might need a letter from your concerned educational institution stating and confirming you’re enrolment and course details.
What If you were living in Ireland before 1 January 2021
A person living in Ireland before 1st January 2021, might be able to apply for an Irish medical card which would be funded by the UK which means they would need to be an Irish resident.
- a frontier worker (a person who is working in one state but lives in another) who began working in the UK before 1 January 2021
- Somebody receiving a UK State Pension
- receiving another ‘exportable benefit’
Not all UK benefits that can be claimed while abroad entitle you to UK-funded healthcare in Ireland.
If you are in scope, you will also be entitled to:
- a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for travel in the EU
- UK-funded planned treatment in other EU countries
