Ireland is a country rich in history and culture. Despite centuries of war, famine, and political unrest, Ireland has managed to maintain a stable democracy and a vibrant economy. To make life easier for foreigners moving to Ireland, securing an Ireland expat insurance is strongly advised, as it ensures a comfortable while accessing medical care.
Specifically, for the year 2023, Ireland registered 6.3 million arriving travelers (CSO evaluation of non-Irish citizens outgoing via Irish ports/airports); check with the Central Statistics Office figure, and note this is the 2023 outcome instead of a long-term yearly average.
A large number of transnational corporations are situated in Ireland to reap the benefits of a low headline corporation tax rate for business income (12.5%) and access to qualified personnel and a large number of global professionals secure themselves with international health insurance Ireland.
Healthcare in Ireland
Ireland has a modern health system in a number of areas; however, performance is mixed: while norms of clinical training and services in main hospitals are top quality, the system has to contend with issues related to capacity and lengthy time delays for some non-emergency services. For those moving for an extended duration, Ireland expat insurance provides increased security when public services encounter long wait times.
Ireland has highly-qualified medical staff members, but staffing levels and status of services differ across regions; hiring and retaining problems mean coverage and availability of specialists can be restricted outside major cities. Non-life-threatening patients may encounter long queues in Emergency Departments (EDs); the HSE releases urgent-and-emergency care reports every day (the “Trolley/ED report”), indicating the consistent pressure on beds and trolley counts, and national reform schemes are in place to decrease ED waits. Having health insurance for expats in Ireland is a boon for avoiding delays by opting for private facilities as and when they are needed.
Ireland has 86 hospitals, and around 78 % of these are state-funded. On average, there are about 3 hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants (2022 figure). Expats who want improved accessibility usually depend on expatriate insurance Ireland to cover both private and public healthcare options.
Government-funded accounts for the larger part of health expenditure in Ireland, but the entire health spending was around 7% of GDP in 2023 (CSO System of Health Accounts); when compared with revised national income (GNI*) the medical expenses share is a lot more. For elective surgeries such as hip or knee replacement or cataracts, median wait times in Ireland exceed 100 days, placing it among nations with the longest wait times in OECD comparisons. Expats equipped with Ireland expat insurance often have an advantage of getting quicker access to such treatments.
Almost 47 % of the total Irish people had private health insurance in 2022 (2.44 million people), one of the maximum ratios in Europe, and this share keeps on rising. For expatriate professionals, international health insurance Ireland is a preferred way to complement or replace public services.
In 2022, around 77 % of total healthcare expenditure came from government spending, while private health insurers covered around 12 %, with the remaining funded by out-of-pocket payments. Additionally, in 2022, the health spending was 11 % of revised Gross National Income (GNI), a more expressive indicator of Ireland’s market openness.
Insurance for Expats in Ireland
In 2022, around 2.6 % of Ireland’s population reported having unfulfilled medical necessities due to cost, travel distance, or wait times, which is more than the EU average. Expat Financial can be a key resource for expats residing in Ireland. We are also an important resource for firms that are sending employees to the island and need tailored Ireland expat insurance solutions. Please note a list of different types of insurance coverage you will want if you are planning to become an expatriate in Ireland:
- International Health Insurance Ireland
- Expat Life and Disability Insurance
- Evacuation Coverage
- Group Expat Insurance Plans
If you require a quote for Ireland expat insurance, contact Expat Financial today for a quote and to discuss your Ireland expatriate health insurance requirements.
