Am I covered by the NHS in NI

xabi · 08-03-2010 12:00PM #1

I grew up and worked in Northern Ireland until I was 25, I have lived in the Republic for the past 8 years but visit home regularly, am I covered under the NHS when I visit?

X.

The_Conductor · 08-03-2010 11:33PM

xabi wrote: »

I grew up and worked in Northern Ireland until I was 25, I have lived in the Republic for the past 8 years but visit home regularly, am I covered under the NHS when I visit?

X.

As an EU citizen, you are entitled to public health care as it is available to any other citizen, in any EU country (as per the old E1-11 scheme). So- yes, you are entitled to NHS public health care, when in Northern Ireland.........

xabi · 09-03-2010 10:32AM

But wouldnt an EU citizen have to pay for the service? I need some fillings and as far as im aware this is covered free for all NI citizens.

X.

The_Conductor · 09-03-2010 10:40AM

xabi wrote: »

But wouldnt an EU citizen have to pay for the service? I need some fillings and as far as im aware this is covered free for all NI citizens.

X.

Any EU citizen is entitled to the same public health care as any other EU citizen in any EU state. Its not like in the States where you'd have to pay for it, and reclaim it at a later date. The NHS is Northern Ireland's public health care system. You, or I, have the same rights to access it, as does someone who has never left the UK in their lives......

The_Conductor · 09-03-2010 10:41AM

xabi wrote: »

But wouldnt an EU citizen have to pay for the service? I need some fillings and as far as im aware this is covered free for all NI citizens.

X.

Dental care may not necessarily be covered as primary public health care....... Emergency dental treatment- is entirely different from routine dental care.

xabi · 09-03-2010 11:36AM

Does this mean that an Irish resident living close to the border could use a GP in the north for free?

The_Conductor · 09-03-2010 11:41AM

xabi wrote: »

Does this mean that an Irish resident living close to the border could use a GP in the north for free?

I am aware that the E1-11 card no longer exists- but you may need some proof that you are an EU citizen, entitled to public health care in whichever member state you are in.

I've attended hospital in Belgium, GP surgery in London, GP surgery in Belfast, Prescribed medication in Belfast, GP surgery in Portugal, Prescribed medication in Portugal, Hospital in France- all the time under the public health system of the country I was visiting, and always under the same terms as any other citizen.

xabi · 09-03-2010 11:49AM

I know people from dublin who made an emergency dental appointment in Newry for extraction / fillings and paid for the service, whereas when i lived there this service was free to me, maybe its changed.

X.

The_Conductor · 09-03-2010 11:54AM

xabi wrote: »

I know people from dublin who made an emergency dental appointment in Newry for extraction / fillings and paid for the service, whereas when i lived there this service was free to me, maybe its changed.

X.

The emergency extractions always were free- I think there was/is a charge for fillings though.

Not sure why the Dublin folk would go to Newry for emergency treatment- the dental hospital on Merrion Row D2- do free/low cost emergency treatment.

Note: Emergency treatment- might include a temporary filling- not permanent fillings......... something to consider......

Little My · 09-03-2010 06:43PM

As far as I know you have to pay for dental treatment unless you are on benefits. Even then if you are on benefits finding a dentist who will take you on the public system can be difficult.

Its free for children and pensioners. It used to be free for everyone but they brought in charges around.... mid 1990's I thought?

xabi · 09-03-2010 10:53PM

Little My wrote: »

As far as I know you have to pay for dental treatment unless you are on benefits. Even then if you are on benefits finding a dentist who will take you on the public system can be difficult.

Its free for children and pensioners. It used to be free for everyone but they brought in charges around.... mid 1990's I thought?

Emergencies are free though.

The_Conductor · 09-03-2010 10:56PM

xabi wrote: »

Emergencies are free though.

Extractions are covered as an emergency- fillings are not. They might do a temporary filling for you- they certainly won't do a permanent one.

pow wow · 11-03-2010 08:25PM

There is a minimal charge for most work (although a bit like the medical card in ROI if you want a white filling it's a lot more than the dark one). It's a bit of a complicated system as it isn't a flat x amount for this, x for that. If you google NHS dental charges you'll find all the details in intricate glory!.

Irish residents can travel and avail of treatment there, if you can find an NHS dentist with an open list who will take you. From recollection I was asked for my NHS medical card but didn't have it with me and it wasn't a big deal.

Going privately is also an option, though obviously more expensive. I don't know how the private fees would compare with dental costs in ROI.

Am I covered by the NHS in NI

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