Health insurance - A guide for international students
Do I need to purchase medical insurance before coming to Ireland to pursue third-level studies?
Your eligibility for public health services in Ireland depends on your country of origin, the duration of your stay and your financial situation.
Evidence of private medical insurance is listed by the Irish National Immigration Service (INIS) as one of the requirements for students from visa-required countries prior to the issue of a student visa.
In practice, this is not always the case - and in general this is a complicated area.
What are the regulations for non-EU/EEA students?
With regard to public hospital treatment for students from non-EU/EEA countries, if you are undertaking a full time course of study for a minimum of one year, you are classed as "ordinarily resident" in Ireland, and are therefore entitled to public patient facilities on the same basis as as an Irish citizen. However, non-EU students staying less than one year do not have this entitlement.
What are the regulations for EU / EEA students?
Under EU / EEA regulations students from other member states who are attending a course of study are entitled to medical services in Ireland. In order to be eligible for any of these services, you will be required to provide the Irish health authorities with documentation from your home country that validates your entitlement.
You should therefore contact the Health Authority in your home country, well in advance of travelling to Ireland, to fulfill any registration requirements and to obtain the necessary forms that you will need.
Please note that you will normally have to pay for all optical and dental services while in Ireland. With regard to hospital services, if you have not obtained the necessary documentation entitling you to free or minimum-cost services, costs can be as much as EUR 550 per day.
What are my options if I am going to obtain insurance?
Firstly, you should enquire about medical insurance with the International Office at the institution(s) to which you intend to apply as they may have a medical insurance scheme for international students.
Secondly, there are three main Private Health Insurance schemes operating in Ireland from which insurance may be purchased. This may not be straightforward from outside of Ireland.
-
Quinn Healthcare
Mill Island, Fermoy, County Cork
Tel: +353 25 42121 (or 1890 89 1890 within the Republic of Ireland)
Web www.quinn-healthcare.com -
Voluntary Health Insurance (VHI)
VHI House, 20 Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1
Tel: +353 56 7753200 (or 1850 44 44 44 within the Republic of Ireland)
Web: www.vhi.ie -
Hibernian Aviva Health
One Park Place, Hatch Street, Dublin 2
Tel: 1850 717 717 (available within Republic of Ireland only)
Web: www.hibernianavivahealth.ie
Under some policies, you may not be entitled to make any claims from the insurance company until you have been with them for over 26 weeks. However, some companies have special insurance schemes where no waiting period is required. It is important to confirm the options with the health insurance company directly.
Thirdly, you may obtain private medical insurance in your home country - but you must be certain that it is valid in Ireland.
Last updated: October 2009