Irish Patients with Private Health Insurance Increasingly Choose Northern Ireland for Treatment
Published
More people in Ireland with private health insurance are going to Northern Ireland for medical treatment, according to a hospital group. Kingsbridge, a private hospital group in Northern Ireland, reported a 171% increase in privately insured patients from Ireland who receive treatment there.
The figure shows a very large rise in a short period. Private health insurance is a plan that people pay for each month, and it can help cover the cost of some hospital care and procedures. Many Irish patients who have this insurance use it to travel across the border for treatment, where they may be able to see a specialist or have an operation sooner.
The information available does not explain why the number of patients has grown so quickly. It also does not say how the increase compares with other private hospitals in the North or the Republic of Ireland. Further details may be needed to understand the wider effect on Ireland's health system.
The increase at Kingsbridge suggests that cross-border healthcare is becoming more common for people with private cover in Ireland. Patients who are considering treatment in Northern Ireland should check with their insurance provider to see what is covered.
Sources: Irish Examiner
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