Help, a&e in Ireland?

I'm not sure if you feel comfortable doing it but as far as I am aware they don't actually check your financials if you say you can't afford it. I know someone who got their hospital and A&E bill wiped(before inpatient stays were free) by literally just saying that they couldn't afford it. They genuinely couldn't afford it but the hospital had no way of knowing that they just took their word for it and said they would pass it onto the billing department or something and they never got sent a bill. I know someone else who did it with an A&E bill(they could afford it but are a tight arse).

Personally I don't think I would feel comfortable doing that but if it is genuinely putting you into hardship then you could.

Thanks a million but in my case

• these are emergency situations and you’re specifically told to bypass gp and go straight to a & e
• it’s not included in the long-term illness scheme, although it is a long term condition
• the (increasingly) squeezed middle is where I am financially

Off to read the policy documents .... 🫢

Seriously!!!

If you get referred by a GP you don't have to pay the A&E charge. Some long term illnesses are entitled to medical cards so you don't have to pay the A&E charge. If you tell them that you are experiencing financial hardship they will wipe your bill. There are lot of exceptions to the €100.

What you’re entitled to
If you’re ordinarily resident in the UK, you can access medically necessary state health services on the same basis as an Irish resident. You may still need to pay a fee for some services, just like an Irish resident.
You will not have to pay for hospital care including A&E or inpatient treatment.
You’ll need to pay in full for private healthcare.

Irish people have to pay the €100 so who should the OP say to send the invoice to?

How is the Irish GP going to get paid by the UK?

That's in the UK. What documentation do you imagine would have been asked for?

I assumed most policies do? Mine covers UK stays as long as you have booked at least 2 nights' accommodation.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-for-uk-nationals-visiting-ireland

You won’t have to pay the A&E charge.

Also if you have to visit GP you won’t be charged - yes GPs are self-employed but under the reciprocal agreement UK residents are covered. GPs still get paid, they claim the costs back from the UK but the patient doesn’t pay.

Do you mean Cork? Or Kerry?

also, we once had to go to a and e in Derry and I don't think were asked for any documentation.

Thanks very much @booksunderthebed and @AnSolas.

I can pay it - just about though. I would prefer not to as there are lot of other places I could use it and I am struggling as many are especially with COL increases. I suppose I just see it as a bit unfair as the GP isn’t an option and we’re not timewasters. I’m not sure why some illnesses qualify for the scheme and not others. There is a society to support this condition. I should take it up with them and lobby to get it included in the exemption list really.

Sorry OP, off the point I know.

Once my kid had to go to A&E and a couple of weeks later the billing dept called up asking for payment. We were really tight for money at the time and I gave it to them. I told them any payment would just add to our cc debt.

They didn't call back and I never paid it.

If you genuinely don't have money there are people with kind hearts in the HSE.

Especially since GP appointments are so difficult to get now I find the payment really unfair.

I am not sure but if you dont pay on the day the hospital i think issue you with an invoice so have a billing department which seeks payment.
You should google your local hospital for an email or phone number and speak to them directly.
Or if you are under a hospital team they may be able to refer you to the social worker.

Are you actually serious?

I had.My first gall stones attack when I was in the Republic of Ireland a few.years ago. I.visited a GP. Didn't have to pay for that they wanted my address and NI number, they also gave me a letter for a&e so if I needed to go there I wouldn't get charged

Thanks, but only certain illnesses qualify unfortunately @AnSolas. I didn’t know you could ask the hospital to consider the LTI as a special circumstance though. How does that work?

I mean, when we’ve presented to a and e before it would be clear from the condition itself that it’s a long term one, but we’ve always been charged as usual.

People with long term illnes can apply for a medical card.
Note if they cant qualify for a card they can (should) ask the hospital to consider rhe LTI as a special circumstance
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/patient-care/hospital-charges/

Ah now, the country’s name isn’t Southern Ireland. (Sorry, I know I’m being a pain, but it’s just so bloody annoying. And people keep on doing it.)

No help to you OP as I don’t know the regulations, but I actually think the €100 charge in Ireland’s a and e’s really unfair. There are some long term illnesses where people are told to present straight to emergency depts rather than go to gp if they have issues - as they are emergency situations - but they still have to pay the higher figure (gps are cheaper).

Anyway, I’m obviously in bad form this morning so I’ll wander off for a coffee now!!😅
Enjoy your visit OP and hope all goes well.

What UK insurance companies provide travel insurance for a journey and overnight stays within the UK?

It depends on whether you are going to Northern or Southern Ireland

A&E doctors in public hospitals are paid by the State and it has a flat rate fee of the €100.
This is over what a local GP would normally charge.
(It was introduced as it stopped people using the then free A&E doctors for non-emergency care. GPs are self-employed and your visit would be private medical care and subject to the individual doctors rates.)

There are private hospital with off-site location A&E's for non-emergency and A&E Rooms running in larger urban areas which can be faster but depending on the level of care you need they may have to refer you out to a public A&E anyway. These would be more expensive that a GP or a public hospital (€100) as you are paying to skip the public A&E Q as everyone is a "walk-in". But any tests would also be chargable.

Your hotel would usually be able to refer you to a local GP if open and most of the country has a private run out of hours service which may include a house/hotel call.
https://www2.hse.ie/services/find-urgent-emergency-care/

GP general surgeries would charge (€60-€80) in urban locations out of hours may be more (Im not sure)

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-services/gp-and-hospital-services/gps-and-private-patients/#:~:text=There%20are%20no%20set%20fees,private%20patients%20free%20of%20charge.
If you vist the GP and pay them and they refer you on to a public hospital they would supply a letter which would result in the hopital fee (€100) being zeroed as you have proven a "need" to visit the A&E. But you join the Q and are seen on how you fit on a critical care basis.

Have you tried one of the specialist comparison sites like Just Travel? Might be worth a look if you haven’t already