AIBU to worry about elderly relative travelling to Eire without insurance?

OP I would be worried if it was further afield but Ireland I would be less so. In the worst case scenario of an extended hospital stay you'd have to keep visiting Ireland but medical repatriation isn't always possible regardless of costs. I went through this exact dilemma last year re France but was already regularly commuting to my DM's home town for emergency hospital visits and France, though further and more expensive, wasn't really a different ballgame. DM had a flat there, which made a difference, and has reasonable French. Ultimately I didn't think repatriation would be essential.

Your situation is different, but similar. There's no language barrier. Worst case scenario they'll be stuck in Ireland being well cared for in hospital. They'll have to think what that would mean, and if it is worth the risk, but I think it's a wholly different prospect to being stuck on another continent with a language barrier etc.

Southern Ireland isn't a place.

Ireland
Or
Northern Ireland.

Christ I think they might be better off not going, considering how uppity people seem to get about North/South and using correct terms. OP was being genuine.

This. Which raises the question, what if the trip was instead going to Belfast and to see the Giants Causeway?

She's not leaving the UK but if she died repatriation would still be needed, so who would pay for that? Presumably
there's a cost?

Also if she ended up in hospital, she might need specialist transport when she's discharged.

Although if the cost is closer to the £4k mentioned instead of £80k she/her relatives might be happy to suck it up if either of these happened.

Just to be clear the British press (and politicians ) did not use the word Éire. They used Eire and it was used as to avoid using the word Ireland or Republic of Ireland which they believed would imply a claim by Ireland to Northern Ireland. This term has not been used by the British press or politicians for over 20 years so people find it jarring. And some may even have forgotten the significance of its use. If in doubt use Ireland.

But yes, regardless, although she will receive similar medical care here I agree with others
that if she needed to be returned ill, this can be expensive and insurance is wise.

Ireland will do just fine ☘️🇮🇪💚

Southern Ireland refers to a specific part of the country, eg the counties of wexford, cork, kerry etc. The country is called the Republic of Ireland or Éire but most people refer to it as Ireland. Éire is the name in Irish (Gaelige is the language) and then Northern Ireland is the other party of the island of Ireland governed by the UK.

I agree. OP came here with a genuine question, if posters have no sensible answer maybe just keep quiet. Honestly, having a go at OP says much more about them than it does about OP.

Way back in the olde days when Ireland was newly independent (a Free State, degree of independence widely debated), British broadcasters and some politicians used to make a huge show of inability to pronounce the word Eire (can't do fadas on my phone, sorry). Eerie, Airy, Eeairy, Area, etc. It was done to emphasize how weird and foreign the Irish were, and how daft their language was.The word was used as a way to sneer. There are echoes of the same sentiment (weird, daft, unpronounceable) on MN's Baby Names board.

She means Ireland.

If it's any consolation, I was once pulled up for the same thing.
I'm nearly 66 and mistakenly thought that I was being respectful.

In tangental news, I sent a card with a wedding present in it addressed to a friend with the final line as Republic of Ireland.

The Royal Mail sent it to Poland.

I think RTFT because this has been discussed rather too much already!
(Southern Ireland is not the name of the country either.)

Well she clearly means southern ireland because if it was the north there would no problem because it's britian unfortunately they are still ruled by two different governments.

I'm assuming you've tried Saga Insurance then?

Don’t worry we all know what you meant.

My dad travelled to the ROI when he was terminally ill with cancer and ended up being taken into St Vincent’s by ambulance, and staying there for a week.
This was before Brexit but we weren’t charged anything because of the E111. My dad was told that the medication they released him with would cost €100 if he had been Irish, but they have to honour the same conditions that an Irish person would receive under the NHS.

It’s getting home that could be the main issue cost wise. UK citizens are entitled to the same hospital care as Irish citizens.

Congratulations! you have won Fada Monitor of the Year award. What an achievement!!!!

No, it's Éire.

Eire is the Irish word for burden.

It's Eire or Ireland, according to the Irish Constitution.

Eire is the official name of the Republic of Ireland according to article 4 of the Constitution of Ireland, so it's correct.

There is a reciprocal arrangement between the UK and Ireland for medical treatment.

Yes but how much would it cost is the issue

So this £80k problem didn't happen in Ireland?