Does Ireland have fee health care?

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greenorlagh

Ireland is an island with two countries on it. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the National health Service - this is not free - we pay for it in our taxes.

kirwanco

Yes and no! Everyone is entitled to a certain level of care in a hospital setting for treating illnesses. However at general practicioner level healthcare is generally not free unless you obtain a medical card which you can only receive if you are over 70 or have a very low income. You also have to pay a small fee about â‚¬100 to visit accident and emergency and for every night spent in hospital unless you have a medical card.

Stranger

Yes its called a medital card you get it if your not working or if you over 65.

bluebell

Persons with no income other than:

Old Age Non-Contributory Pension (maximum)
Deserted Wife's Allowance
Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Allowance
Disability Allowance
One-Parent Family Payment (max.)
Widow's/Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension (max)
Orphans (Non-Contributory) Pension (max.)
Blind Person's Pension (max.)
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Unemployment Assistance
will be regarded as being eligible for a medical card. Hardship cases are dealt with individually on merit.

Medical Card income guidelines with effect from 1st January, 2005:

Weekly Income Limit (Gross less PRSI and Health Contribution)

Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aged under 66 Aged 66-69
Single person living alone . . . . 153.50 euro . . . . 168 euro
Single person living with family . . 136.50 euro . . . .144.50 euro
Married couple . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222 euro . . . . . . 248.50 euro
Allowance for first 2 children aged under 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.50 euro . . . . . .31.50 euro
Allowance for 3rd and subsequent children under 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 euro . . . . . . .34 euro
Allowance for dependants aged over 16 (with no income)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32.50 euro . . . . . . .32.50 euro
Allowance for 3rd and subsequent children over 16 (no income)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35.50 euro . . . . . . .35.50 euro
Dependants over 16 years in full-time non-grant aided third-level
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 euro . . . . . . . . 65 euro
Allowance for house expenses (rent, etc.) in excess of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 euro. . . . . . . . .26 euro
Allowance for cost of travelling to work: in excess of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 euro . . . . . . . .23 euro

Assessments for medical card purposes for couples are on the basis of the age of the older person.

All persons aged 70 years and over are entitled to a Medical Card irrespective of income. This medical card which is not means tested, covers the applicant only, and does not cover dependents.

more details at http://www.irishpatients.ie/index.cfm/loc/1/pt/0/spid/268DC449-86C5-4FF0-80CA4082C84A923A.htm

agooddub

There is automatic entitlement to free health care if you are over 70, and have less that â‚¬70,000 annual income, or any age with an income of less than â‚¬20,000 pa.
For the rest, there is assisted health care depending on the level of contribution which you have made into the Health Fund, which is collected at source from your weekly wages.
You pay for doctors visits, which average â‚¬60 a time and monthly medicine bills up to â‚¬100 a month, anything over â‚¬100 is free.
You pay â‚¬100 for a visit to the A&E at a hospital, and â‚¬100 per day as a patient, for the first 3 days, there after it is free.
Over 1.5 million people have taken out Private Health Insurance, which costs â‚¬1400 per annum for a husband and wife. A family of 5, would cost about â‚¬3000 pa.
Health costs are tax deductible at 20% on a yearly basis, which you must apply for in arrears.
The 20% is already built into the cost of the Private Health Premium, so there is no tax relief on that.
If a citizen is travelling to another EU country, and if sick, and needs hospital attention, it is free on production of an E111 health card, which every EU citizen is entitled to.
But you cannot use the E111 in Ireland, if you are Irish.

Mick

Mostly it is free with a small fee

Trust me I'm a Doctor â™¥

If you are unemployed, on low income or over 70 (with certain high income limit exceptions) then you get a medical card which entitles you to free medical care. Otherwise you have to pay to see your GP or attend A&E. This is for children too. I think its about 60 Euro each time. I broke my arm 2 years ago and had to pay at the hospital.

You also have to pay for your medication. My inhalers would cost 80 Euro a month but my b/f is out of work and I have a low income so the whole family gets medical card.s

macker33

Completely free if youve got a medical card.

Richard C

Do you mean "free" or does one pay a "fee"?

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