Help, a&e in Ireland?

[Uktoireland]

Hey

just wanted to double check in case anyone on here knows

I’m travelling to Ireland soon. I have a condition which sometimes makes me unwell and I have to go to A&e ( think epilepsy, asthma, that type of thing) it’s controlled at the moment but obviously it’s always in the back of my mind to be prepared in case it flares up and I have to access emergency treatment

for abroad I’d take out travel health insurance but from the NHS and gov website it’s unclear if this is required for going to Ireland. It says as long as you have a drivers license and photo ID you can get emergency care but it’s not clear if this is free or charged, but then I’ve also seen online that you need a GHIC/EHIC and that sometimes you have to pay upfront for treatment and claim back of the NHS

I have a driving license but no GHIC/EHIC and not enough time to get one

just a bit unsure what to do- I’ll take out travel health insurance just in case but not sure if it’s even necessary as from the sounds of it you can access emergency care without this? But just unclear if you have to pay for it upfront or not?

i know in ROI they pay 100e to go to a&e but obviously as a UK citizen I’m not sure if I’d have to pay the full amount which would be much much more

hopefully it won’t be necessary but just want to be prepared just in case

does anyone know anything? Thanks x

Be warned your travel insurance could refuse to pay out with you not having a GHIC. You can order one now and just take the number with you. You don't have to have the actual card on you.

Oh wow I didn’t realise that was possible. Thank you very much. Is it just an instantaneous thing or does it take days to approve?

Just order a ghic card. Note the reference number and the emergency line and take those with you if it does not arrive in time. https://overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad/start

16 years since we needed a&e with my daughter in Kilkenny. She was admitted in for a week. Didn’t have to pay anything at all. I was told as long as I had an English address it would all be taken care of. Not sure if still the same today though.

Thanks. Hope your daughter is ok now!

just not sure if it’s changed since brexit

Great thanks I’ll fill in the application now. Does it go via the GP before getting approved? Just because our GP is quite slow with things and if they need to contact them it will probably not be approved in time.

thanks x

https://overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad/start
There is an emergency card too.

Ypu will have to pay the €100 as it was introduced to force people to go to their GP (@ €60-€80 a visit) first before A&E

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-services/gp-and-hospital-services/hospital-charges/

She is thanks. She’s an adult now. She was two and had pneumonia. They were fabulous there and looked after us so well. That’s what I was wondering and unsure about because of Brexit. Sorry I couldn’t be sure for you.

Oh wow, just done it and got an email already! They said I’ll get the card in 15 days but I’ve got the email with the number.

sorry, I appreciate this is stupid of me but what does the GHIC actually change? Does that mean if I had to use a&e I only have to pay the 100e like an Irish citizen would? Rather than the full cost (thousands)

thanks so much again everyone x

If you are a UK citizen, you have access to healthcare under the Common Travel Area while visiting Ireland. This arrangement has not been affected by the UK leaving the EU. You can bring evidence of your UK citizenship.
UK residents can access necessary healthcare when visiting Ireland. You can show any of the following as proof of UK residency:

• UK-issued Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• UK driving licence
• Northern Ireland voter’s card or medical card
• UK biometric residence permit
• 2 documents showing your UK address (for example bank statement or utility bill) issued within 6 months

You will need to show photo ID if the document you present does not have a photo.

Source:https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-system/health-services-and-visitors-to-ireland/#a3c5b2

Yes
In theory you only get the same medical treatment that you would get in the UK public hospital system.
You would also have to buy any medicines which are pescribed so should make sure you know the generic name of any branded meds.

I had to visit A&E whilst in Ireland several years ago. I had to show some sort of card probably the GHIC people mentioned (can’t remember the name) and I wasn’t charged anything for my 3 day stay.

Sorry… another question! So I’ve just priced up travel health insurance and it’s extortionate because of pre existing conditions, like in the hundreds. Does the common travel agreement and the fact I’ve got the GHIC number (not the card yet but the email with the number) mean I don’t need to get travel health insurance? From what I can see online (and posted above) it says you can get emergency care with your uk drivers license, GHIC card etc etc but doesn’t mention travel insurance

thanks- stressing about nothing but just want to make sure I’m protected!

I have travelled to Ireland numerous times as have lots of family there, used A&E twice whilst there and never had health insurance the card was enough and I wasn’t charged a penny. Don’t want to give you wrong info or advise against obtaining health insurance but in my experience it wasn’t needed

Been in A and E with my kids twice in Ireland. All you need is your GIHC card. When we have seen a GP in Ireland you have to pay and then you a reclaim it once home if you have a GHIV

Great, thanks. Really wish I had an actual card but I’m assuming the number will be ok, it said online if you need healthcare but don’t have the card you need to appt for a ‘Provisional Replacement Certificate’ so not sure if this means paying upfront then claiming back? Ah so frustrating, I’m annoyed at myself for not having the card in advance. Hopefully won’t need any of this of course but unfortunately need to make sure I’m prepared just in case

You risk is if you had a serious incident and need to be medevaced back to the UK.
You would be "stuck" in the Irish hospital until you could be safely released.
Google is showing a starting cost of £3500

Travel insurance covers more than just the treatment. It can cover the cost of repatriation, lost flights due to illness, extra days of accommodation for a partner etc. I once had an accident in Austria. The insurance covered the new flight to get me back to Uk, the cost of a taxi to get me from hotel to the airport and from the Uk airport to home, cost of a fit to fly certificate etc. I would not travel without insurance

Irish doctors are self employed so you would need to pay upfront at the time you are seen.
And A&E would be a pay on arrival too.

sorry I know I’m being stupid here but do you mean a&e doctors? As in, I’d have to pay upfront to a&e? Or do you mean if I were to visit a GP? By pay a&e on arrival are you meaning the 100e fee?

that’s a great point about the cost of being sent back to the UK if in an accident without insurance etc and it’s something I’d forgotten to consider so thanks!

Great points. I think I’ll just suck it up and pay for the insurance

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

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.

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

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