Question:
Is health care in the Republic of Ireland free?
?
14 years ago
Is health care in the Republic of Ireland free?
Sixteen answers:
Pearl
14 years ago
At €50-60 to see a GP, hardly.
Billie M
14 years ago
As explained by the many comments before mine here there are many versions of cost and 'Free' and fee.

As opposed to what has been said about the medical card being available for specific groups, some within those groups have to squiggle through hoops to qualify and even after repeated appeals they fail to succeed.

The anomaly and crying shame of the Irish Health System is that Young families - Sick mothers, babies and children are charged to the hilt for health care, for GP & PX meds.

While this disgraceful rip off takes place the outdated costly Child Health System which the British NHS left in 1922 continues, requiring 7-10 Public Health Nurses with Salary of 60,000 - 98,000 Euro PA each in every EVERY Health Centre in the Country.

On the other hand if one is seriously ill do not go to a hospital - you will be charged.

Find a GP, pay the necessary fee - 60?. If your condition warrents Hospital referral the outcome will be free.
Kon
14 years ago
Not for the majority of people, no. If you've medical card, most things are free (paid for by taxpayers).



There really is a two tier system here and the gap is widening between those with insurance and those without. Unlike Germany for example, it's not compulsory and many people are getting rid of it because the prices just keep going up, while people are losing jobs every day. The VHI (until 1996 the ONLY health insurance company in Ireland) have a higher proportion of older customers and the other companies have to compensate them for this (BUPA left Ireland when this legislation came in).
froggequene
14 years ago
It depends on what you consider to be free - it is funded by the tax payers at the end of the day



There is a two tier system, those on medical cards (the unemployed, long term sick, students etc) get free health care but those who work have to pay for things like GP visits. Hospital care would be 'free'.



Whether or not healthcare is free will also depend on your status within the country - visitors for instance, depending on their nationality or the agreement their health care providers have worked out with the Republic of Ireland may have to pay for healthcare.



If you have a specific concern that needs to be addressed perhaps you should ask about them - for instance, are you planning to move to Ireland but have a condition which requires long term care or you're a tourist deciding whether or not to buy travel insurance
?
14 years ago
Public health care is free at the point of use, meaning you don't have to cough up several thousand (or several HUNDRED thousand) for a relatively-simple operation like you do in the US, but you pay through your taxes.



However, like everywhere else, private health care is not free (hence the term "private").



As a result, taxes in Ireland (and other countries with similar systems) are a bit higher than in the US, but, on the other hand, medical bankruptcy is virtually unheard of here and (perhaps surprisingly to some people) the quality of treatment in the public system is often the same as, or even better than, that available in the private system. In fact, the only real advantage of "going private", as they say, is speed of treatment but, since emergency cases get priority in the public system anyway, it usually amounts to little more than buying your way out of impatience (and I say that as someone who has, and still does, use(d) both systems).
anonymous
14 years ago
If you don't earn a certain amount of money or are unemployed medical care is 100% free you get a medical card and you reapply for another one if you feel you still fit the financial requirements when it expires. You only have to pay 50cent on each prescription from a pharmacy and certain extras in a dental clinic.

@joe as usual is saying it as it is.
Koko
14 years ago
If your income falls below a certain level then you recieve a medical card which makes most treatment and prescriptions free, but there are long long waiting lists for almost all services.
?
14 years ago
Broke my elbow in a fall.



a&e cost me 100 quid.



Granted they gave me great care, and speak no ill of the attention vincent's gave me. But our healthcare system is far more boston than berlin....
?
14 years ago
Nope. Not only is it not free but its very expensive for the majority of people.
peter d
14 years ago
No not at all you pay for every thing you get
Mark
14 years ago
Yes, it is. But you can still buy health insurance (if you want a private hospital room, for example).
Johnathan F
14 years ago
Not if you pay your full taxes - sickly ironic! The government are increasingly moving towards the nhs (British) model, if at all possible.
Orla C
14 years ago
Ah, no. Nor has it been for a while now.
?
14 years ago
I wish..
?
14 years ago
No you must pay for it you must also pay to visit a doctor quite pathetic really and they want us to join them get bloody real!
Eire7
14 years ago
lol. No.


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