Treatment Abroad

EU Health Insurance Card The European Health Insurance Card allows the holder access to health services in other EU or EEA countries.  It allows an EU/Irish resident to avail of public healthcare in other EU countries if he or she becomes ill or injured on a temporary stay.  In the case of the United Kingdom, […]

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Services for Minors

Overview Children and dependants of persons with medical cards may qualify for the same services as the cardholder. In addition, a range of services is provided to all children free of charge. These services are part of the maternity and infant welfare health services, pre-school children and school health services.  Vaccination and immunisation services are […]

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Medical Cards

Entitlement to health services is based primarily on residence and compliance with means test.  Unlike other States there is not a comprehensive social insurance payment system linked to health services. Any resident who satisfies the HSE  that he is ordinarily is  entitled to either full eligibility or limited eligibility for health services.  Full eligibility is […]

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Insurance Regulations

The Health Insurance (Amendment Act) 2007 provides that a risk equalisation scheme is to apply to registered health insurance providers and providers that are ceased to be registered providers.  If repealed the former  three-year exemption from risk equalisation for new entrants to the market. The Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions)Act  2009 followed the Supreme Court judgment […]

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Risk Equalisation

The 1994 Act established a register of health insurance undertakings.  It prohibited carrying on health insurance other than as a registered party. The 1994 Act prohibited non-community rated health insurance contracts.  It provided that registered undertakers must provide health insurance contracts on the same terms and without discrimination in a range of circumstances.  In particular, […]

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Insurance Background

Private health insurance. Private health insurance existed prior to the establishment of the VHI, but was limited in scope.  Some private medical insurance schemes run into financial difficulties. The Health Act 1953 established three groups of persons entitled to health services.  Persons unable to provide health service for themselves and dependents are entitled to access […]

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