Student Health and Medical Insurance

Ireland is regarded as a low-risk destination with good and modern healthcare standards. Tap water is safe to drink and no particular vaccinations are recommended for visitors. A Student Health Service is provided on campus; this is free and completely confidential. It is staffed by two doctors, two nurses, a physiotherapist and a sports injuries therapist, who are there to meet the needs of all students with any medical problems. Referral to other agencies and specialist services is available as required. Please note that the Student Health Service does not cover the cost of prescribed medicine, hospitalisation, and optical or dental treatment. Students are therefore advised to have a thorough medical check-up before leaving home.

All European Union students are eligible to avail of the medical services in Ireland. However, in order to do so, it will be necessary to bring with you a European Health Insurance Card, which is available at local health authority offices in your home country. You should arrange to obtain this card prior to your departure from your home country as it will be much more difficult for you to acquire it once you have arrived in Ireland.  For further information, see http://www.ehic.ie/.

Students from EU Member States in possession of the European Health Insurance Card are entitled to access healthcare in a public setting whilst studying and/or on a temporary stay in Ireland. Students may have entitlement to a Medical Card under EU regulations provided they have documents from a competent institution in another Member State stating they are still insured in that state or a dependant of an insured worker. If a student is insured in Ireland, the application for a Medical Card will be assessed on means and on residency. This card, which can be requested from the local Health Board in Galway, entitles students to free health care, including visits to the local doctor, all necessary in-patient and out-patient treatment in public hospitals, and drugs and treatment as prescribed. If you obtain a medical card, you should ensure that the doctor in your area, with whom you are registering, is a member of the GMS (General Medical Services) scheme.

Students who require private medical insurance should make arrangements for cover prior to departing from their home country, or alternatively they can contact Health Insurance Companies in Ireland, which offer private medical cover. This, however, can be very expensive and medical cover may not begin immediately.

Students from non-EU countries attending NUI Galway for less than the full academic year are required to pay full charges for in-patient and out-patient services in a public hospital and all charges for doctors' services, drugs and medicines. Such students are accordingly advised to hold a comprehensive health insurance policy to meet any costs accruing from health care treatment.

 If you have an existing medical condition (e.g. asthma, heart disease, diabetes) you should .

• see your doctor before you travel;
• explain the nature of your trip and ask for a letter detailing your condition and any ongoing need for medication or equipment (it may be useful to have this translated into English);
• get legible updates of all your prescriptions, and remember to ask for generic drug names as brand names differ abroad;
• consider bringing copies of some of your health records, or at least your doctor's contact details;
• bring a good supply of your medication - sometimes it takes a while to track down an equivalent drug in a foreign country;
• when you are travelling, keep your medication in your carry-on luggage in case your other baggage is lost or delayed.

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