Do I need travel insurance for Ireland if I already have health cover at home?
Ireland does not require visitors to hold it, and whether to buy it is the traveller's own call. What the information shows is how far home cover reaches: home health cover rarely travels well: cover from outside Europe usually pays nothing in Ireland, and a European Health Insurance Card or UK Global Health Insurance Card only opens the public system on the same terms as a resident. None of those cards pays for private treatment, a flight home after an accident, a cancelled trip, a stolen camera or a hire car excess, and an air ambulance home is the kind of bill that runs to tens of thousands. The details policies differ on are cover for both jurisdictions on a trip that crosses the border, inclusion of activities such as surfing, hill walking and cycling, and how pre existing conditions are treated when they are declared before purchase.
Useful pages: Money and tipping in Ireland · Shopping in Ireland · Packing checklist · Travel notices · Healthcare and emergencies · Irish weather · Festivals and events · Dublin · Ireland dos and don'ts · Solo travel in Ireland · First time visitor tips
Sources
- HSE: healthcare for visitors to Ireland and treatment with an EHIC, hse.ie; Citizens Information: health services and public holidays, citizensinformation.ie
More in Money and practicalities
- Do I need euros and pounds on the same Ireland trip?
- Are cards accepted in small Irish towns and rural pubs, or do I still need cash?
- Can I claim a VAT refund on shopping when I leave Ireland?
- What will a pint, a pub lunch and a modest dinner typically cost in Ireland?
- What plug adapter do I need in Ireland, and will my phone charger work?