Medical insurance and health

Health Insurance

Non-EEA students are required to hold private medical insurance when applying for a student visa to Ireland. Policies from your home country may be extended for the purposes of your stay here, or you may purchase a policy from one of the following Irish insurance providers –

• Voluntary Health Insurance Board - www.vhi.ie
• Quinn Healthcare – www.quinnhealthcare.com
• Hibernian Aviva Health - www.avivahealth.ie

Some educational institutions will have pre-arranged discounts available to foreign students with an insurance company. Contact your chosen course provider to see if they can provide you with this cheaper option.

Irish health service

In terms of public health services, the eligibility of non-EEA students depends on their country of origin, duration of stay and financial situation. While with regard to hospital services, non-EEA students who are enrolled in a full time course of at least one year’s duration are deemed  ‘ordinarily resident’ in Ireland and therefore entitled to the same public patient service as an Irish citizen.

EEA students may avail of free public medical services in Ireland provided they carry documentation from their home country that validates this entitlement.  The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) card ensures you receive whatever treatment you require in the Irish public health system in the event of accident or illness. Visit www.ehic.ie for more information.

The health system in Ireland is advanced and accessible, and there are GPs (general practitioners) widely available who will charge about €50 for a consultation. Most students however, can avail of free medical services, as all major universities and institutes of technology provide a medical and counselling services on campus. Other colleges will often have an agreement with a nearby GP, who will see students for a reduced rate.

Disabled Students

The Irish education system has a good record with regard to facilities, services and supports for disabled students, with most colleges employing a dedicated access officer. Disabled international students should contact the course provider to see what supports are available. Services and facilities outside the campus however, are not as accessible as some other Western European countries but the situation is definitely improving. Two very helpful organisations include the National Disability Authority (www.nda.ie) and the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (www.ahead.ie).

Relevant Legal Age Limits

Learning Ireland is making no judgment on lifestyle choices in providing this information; we do so only in the interest of promoting awareness amongst visiting students.

Age of sexual consent in Ireland is 17
Minimum age for purchasing alcohol is 18
Minimum age for purchasing cigarettes is 18
Smokers should be aware that a workplace ban is in place in Ireland, which of course applies to bars, restaurants, etc. So get ready to cut back, or better yet, give cigarettes the boot!

Useful link:
www.pleasetalk.ie - a directory of support services available to students in Ireland.