My partner and I brought a small house in Ireland. We live in the US. I am not near retirement. The plan is to use this as a vacation house. Wondering is anyone knows about international health insurance and if it'd make sense/be possible for us to get health insurance in Ireland without being a citizen
Posts: 2638 | Location: CT | Registered: October 06, 2010
If you are staying less than 90 days at a time I think medical travel insurance might be the cheapest option. I know in Germany if you are older medical insurance can run $800 and higher per month if you are a foreign resident there and it is required if you reside there.
Posts: 3962 | Location: FL, GA,HB, and all points beyond | Registered: February 10, 2010
I would imagine it may vary by country. But when I was often in France on business I had no trouble finding a supplemental policy to cover my time there. In actuality the local gov't coverage would have been provided for me, but anyone with a brain bought their way into coverage that allowed you to go to a the higher priced 'American' system.
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
Look into Christian Healthcare Ministry and other similar groups. We get our coverage through them as we are retired but too young for Medicare.
Chministries.com
It isn't insurance but amounts to the same thing pretty much. It does cover us anywhere in the world. We pay (or set up a payment plan) with the provider, then send receipts in to CHM for reimbursement.
There's no in or out of network. Just a $1000 deductible per event. So we pay out of pocket for all the normal minor stuff, but have good coverage for the rare expensive stuff.
They do have a 2 yr exclusion for pre-existing conditions.
We pay about $275 per person per month for no-limits coverage.
Posts: 9893 | Location: On the mountain off the grid | Registered: February 25, 2002
Getting health insurance in Ireland without being a citizen is possible, but it can depend on your residency status and whether you'll spend significant time there. Many insurers offer expat or international health plans that cover you during extended stays abroad. You might also want to look into Ireland's private health insurance options through local providers like VHI or Laya Healthcare, as they sometimes cover non-residents.
When I was living in the UK, I used private health insurance to supplement public care, and it was worth it for peace of mind, especially for mental health support. Companies like Premier PMI offer various insurance plans, including mental health coverage, which might be worth considering if you're looking for tailored options. https://premierpmi.co.uk/mental-health-insurance/ explains the benefits and types of plans, which could help you figure out what fits best for your situation.
Posts: 77 | Location: MS, USA | Registered: February 06, 2010
