Public health waiting list

rustyzip

I lost my medical card recently and can't afford health insurance yet...

Excuse my ignorance but how does it work in Ireland if you don't have a medical card or health insurance?

I lived abroad and have had a medical card for the last few years so have never been without one as an adult.

It looks like I will have to get a consultation and two overnight studies done and I'm not sure if it will cost loads.. the lady in doctors surgery said, oh if you pay for it and go straight away it could cost thousands.. but if you go on a 'waiting list' you will have to wait maybe 8 months and it will only costs approx €70 a night for night stays...

I can't find much info online re the whole thing.

One thing is certain though, and I'm not exaggerating, I was much better off financially before I went to back to work!

Thanks

BoJack Horseman

May be better for the state benefits or medical forum?

However, in a nutshell, as a normal public patient you can wait for a public consultation, or pay the cash price if you want it quicker privately.

You are right about the costs, you pay a nightly rate..... Though I thought it was higher than €70?

Zombienosh

The difference between medical and no medical card is staggering, also i wish they made it clear if you go private it'll be this much and take this long vs public times/prices.

kneemos

Don't think you'll get covered for an existing condition anyway.So it's the public system or pay.

Mint Sauce

rustyzip wrote: »

I lost my medical card recently and can't afford health insurance yet...

Excuse my ignorance but how does it work in Ireland if you don't have a medical card or health insurance?

I lived abroad and have had a medical card for the last few years so have never been without one as an adult.

It looks like I will have to get a consultation and two overnight studies done and I'm not sure if it will cost loads.. the lady in doctors surgery said, oh if you pay for it and go straight away it could cost thousands.. but if you go on a 'waiting list' you will have to wait maybe 8 months and it will only costs approx €70 a night for night stays...

I can't find much info online re the whole thing.

One thing is certain though, and I'm not exaggerating, I was much better off financially before I went to back to work!

Thanks

If you dont have health insurance, your a public patient, atleast €70 a night, think its capped at 7 nights, only thing the medical card does is cover that charge. The waiting time would be the same, in my experience its a 6 to 18 month wait just for a consultation, quicker or longer depending on your case.

Going private, weather you pay for it your self costing as little as €70 for just a 15 minute consultation, to 100s/1000s depending what you have done, or health insurance pays depending on your policy. Could have you seen within a week.

suicide_circus

Mint Sauce wrote: »

The waiting time would be the same, in my experience its a 6 to 18 month wait.

By which time you will have died.

Mint Sauce

suicide_circus wrote: »

By which time you will have died.

Obviously for an emergency you are seen straight away, but for one case I was told a 6 month wait, was seen after a week when went private, another case it did take 18 months, was told two years though at one point.

Tombi!

AH Mod: moved to State Benefits; I think you'll get better advice here.