Entitlement to health services in Ireland is mainly based on residency and means, rather than on your payment of tax or pay-related social insurance (PRSI). Broadly speaking, if you are living here and intend to continue to live here for at least a year, you will be considered”ordinarily resident".

If you are a European Union (EU)/EEA/Swiss national or if you are normally resident in Ireland, you are entitled to receive the same level of health care as Irish citizens. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a medical card, which entitles you to the full range of medical services at no cost.

If you do not qualify for a medical card, you are entitled to free public hospital services but you may have to pay in-patient and outpatient hospital charges. You are also entitled to subsidized prescribed drugs and medicines and maternity and infant care services and you may be entitled to free or subsidized community care and personal social services.

For more information on medical cards, please visit: Medical cards in Ireland

If you are not from an EU/EEA member State, you will be entitled to certain services free of charge and you will have to pay for the remainder.

In addition to the public health system, people in Ireland can avail of a range of private health care services. You must pay the full costs of treatment if you opt for private health care.

There are a number of private health insurance companies in Ireland - the major ones are the VHI and BUPA. As long as you are from the EU/EEA/Switzerland or normally resident in Ireland, you are entitled to the same benefits from your private health insurance with either of these two companies as any other Irish citizen.

Your private health insurance premium attracts tax relief at the standard rate (20%). This tax relief is deducted at source by the health insurance provider.