Ireland is a country rich in history and culture. Despite centuries of war, famine, and political unrest, Ireland has maintained a stable democracy and a vibrant economy. To make life easier for foreigners moving to Ireland, securing expat insurance in Ireland is strongly advised, as it ensures a comfortable stay and access to 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 in 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 of top quality, the system has to contend with capacity issues and lengthy time delays for some non-emergency services. For those moving for an extended period, Ireland expat insurance provides greater security when public services experience long wait times.
Ireland has highly qualified medical staff, but staffing levels and service status differ across regions; hiring and retention 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”), which indicate the consistent pressure on beds and trolley counts. National reform schemes are in place to decrease ED waits. Having health insurance for expats in Ireland is a boon for avoiding delays by allowing them to opt for private facilities as and when needed.
Ireland has 86 hospitals, and around 78% of them are state-funded. On average, there are about 3 hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants (2022 figure). Expats who want improved access to healthcare usually rely on expatriate insurance in 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 cataract surgery, median wait times in Ireland exceed 100 days, placing it among the OECD nations with the longest wait times. Expats equipped with Ireland expat insurance often have an advantage of getting quicker access to such treatments.
Almost 47% of the total Irish population had private health insurance in 2025 (2.44 million people), one of the highest rates in Europe, and this share continues to rise. For expatriate professionals, international health insurance in 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 unmet medical needs due to cost, travel distance, or wait times, which is higher than the EU average. Expat Financial can be a key resource for expats residing in Ireland. We are also an important resource for firms sending employees to the island who 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 on a group basis
- Evacuation Coverage
- Group Expat Insurance Plans
If you require a quote for Ireland expatriate insurance, even if you are already living there, contact Expat Financial today for a quote and to discuss your Ireland expatriate health insurance requirements.
