Compare travel insurance for Ireland

Despite British citizens being able to access free basic emergency healthcare in Ireland,  travel insurance can still be very useful when it comes to preparing for unforeseen problems.

 

Ireland is part of the Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA is a long-standing agreement between the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. It allows British and Irish citizens to move freely and live in either country without immigration restrictions. This is also why it’s possible for you to receive basic emergency healthcare by showing your proof of British citizenship.

 

But, this will not cover you for everything, you will still have to pay for things such as:

 

• Medical costs 
• Emergency assistance
• Repatriation  
• Lost or stolen baggage 
• Cancellations 

 

This is where travel insurance can fill the gap, by covering you for these things and much more.

 

Finding the right travel insurance policy is vital, and PayingTooMuch makes it easy by quickly comparing all the options available to you, based on you and your travel plans. 

 

In spite of its small size, 6.3 million people visited Ireland in 20231 The majority of them came to enjoy activities such as: 

 

• Hiking - Take in scenic trails such as Wicklow Way or Kerry Way

 

• Cycling - You can take in the epic Wild Atlantic Way on your bike

 

• Scenic drives -  Enjoy breathtaking routes in the car, such as The Ring of Kerry.

 

It’s usually much easier to enjoy these things if you have travel insurance.

Many travel insurance policies, that are designed for a holiday in Ireland, usually cover the following:

 

• Private medical care - This covers stays in private hospitals, filling the gap left by GHIC/EHIC (only valid in public hospitals) Your policy will pay for the daily patient contribution charge of €80 per day.  

 

• Repatriation (sending someone back to their country) - If you get seriously ill or injured, you may need to be flown back to the UK if you can’t travel as originally planned. A GHIC or EHIC will not cover the cost of this. 

 

• Travel disruption - You’re covered if you’re unable to travel for a valid reason, such as delays/cancellation of flights and ferries. This is important as the Irish Sea can often be rough, making ferry crossings difficult and cancellations common.  

 

• Cancellation  - If you’re unable to travel because of illness, injury or an emergency you should be able to get a refund for your trip.   

 

• Baggage -You could cover the loss, damage and theft of your baggage and other personal items. 

Relying only on the EHIC/GHIC for cover while in Ireland could be a risky decision. The CTA agreement only covers medically necessary treatment. There may be a mismatch between what you and the Irish healthcare system think is medically necessary, which could lead to you having to pay thousands of pounds if you are seriously injured. 

 

There is also no cover for:

 

• Cancellation if you have a family emergency 

 

• Delays due to circumstances out of your control  

 

• Loss, theft or damage to your luggage and belongings

 

Getting your own travel insurance takes away all these worries, which makes enjoying your time in Ireland easier.

 

The majority of travel insurance policies for Ireland won’t cover everything. It can be helpful to read any policy documents to make sure your policy covers everything you need before you buy.

 

Some of the examples of things that might not be covered are:

 

• Flight cancellations - If your flight is cancelled, your airline is usually responsible for  reimbursing you for any costs e.g. food, hotels etc.

 

• Alcohol/drug-related injuries - If you were to lose any of your belongings, or have a medical due to intoxication, it’s very unlikely you will be covered.  So, if you visit any breweries or distilleries while in Ireland, be careful not to enjoy the experience too much! 

 

• Undeclared pre-existing conditions - If you don’t declare a pre-existing condition before you take out your policy, and you fell ill whilst in Ireland, your insurance can be invalidated.

 

• Travelling against FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office) advice - If the UK government advises against travel to Ireland (or specific regions) due to potential danger, your cover will likely be void if you choose to travel anyway. Furthermore, if you purchase insurance after an event has become publicly known or after the FCDO has already issued a warning, you will not be covered for claims arising from that situation, as it is no longer considered an unforeseen risk.

 

• Specialist activities - This can include high-risk activities such as hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. You will need to get specific activity add-ons to be covered.

Ireland is usually in the ‘Europe’ category, which helps to make it a very affordable destination when it comes to travel insurance. Some of the other factors that can affect the price of your premiums include:

 

• The duration of the trip - Longer trips increases the risk of you making a claim, which often leads to higher travel insurance costs, and may require long stay travel insurance.

 

• The planned activities during the trip - The riskier the activities, e.g. mountain biking  or hiking, the more likely the cost of the premium will be higher.  

 

• Age - Your age can affect the price of your cover. Costs will increase at certain age milestones, such as 65 and 75. This is because insurers tend to see older people as a higher risk, as they’re more likely to need to claim. 

 

• Medical history - Most pre-existing conditions will increase the price of travel insurance policies, as insurers see these as a higher risk customer.

You can compare different travel insurance policies for Ireland by:

 

• Tailoring cover to your specific trip, or trips - For example, if you’re not doing any hiking or mountain biking, there is no need to have any add-ons, which will make it cheaper for you. 

 

• Find group policies - If you’re visiting Ireland as part of a group, a family or group policy may work out to be cheaper. 

 

• Declare all pre-existing medical conditions - It is vital to be honest about your health history. While fully disclosing conditions may make your policy slightly more expensive, it could save you from a much larger bill if you require treatment while away. If you fail to declare a condition and fall ill because of it, your insurer will likely reject your claim, leaving you to fund the medical costs yourself. 

 

• Consider an annual multi-trip (AMT) policy - If you’re planning to travel more than twice in a year, an AMT may work out to be cheaper. 

 

• Check the "Territory" definition - Make sure the insurer classes Ireland as ‘Europe’ to get the most competitive rates. You don’t need to pay for worldwide cover if you’re only planning to visit Ireland.  
• Check the excess - Sometimes, taking out a policy with a higher excess can lower your premium. However, it’s important to make sure that you can afford the excess charge before doing so.

 

• Buy as soon as you book - For Single Trip policies, this activates your cancellation cover immediately, protecting you from unforeseen circumstances that can stop you travelling. For AMT policies, though, your cover will start on your chosen start date for the AMT policy. 

 

If you are already doing your own research and make sure you find the right travel insurance policy for you by comparing quotes now.