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Health Insurance
10 Jun 2024
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We recommend that all students coming to UCC from outside Ireland have health insurance cover. This may be provided by your government under EU/EEA regulations or alternatively through purchased private medical insurance. In the case of visa requiring students it is mandatory before a visa will be issued.
Please review details below to learn about your health insurance requirements and options. You will also find further information at this link.
Non-EU Students
All Non-EU students must have private health insurance for immigration purposes. This must cover you from the date you arrive to Ireland until the date you leave. Immigration services will only grant permission to reside in Ireland if you can produce private health insurance policy documentation.
In the case of visa requiring students it is mandatory to submit private health insurance details with your visa application. When you arrive to Ireland, your health insurance document must be written in English and have full medical cover for accidents and medical incidents, including hospital stays in Ireland, valid for 12 months, or for the duration of your stay. More information can be found here.
If you are in Ireland for more than 12 months duration then you will need to be in recepit of private medical insurance sourced in Ireland.
Studying at UCC for less than 12 months
If your home university does not cover your health insurance, UCC have agreed rates with both VHI and Study and Protect. We would recommend Study and Protect for any student studying in Ireland for less than 12 months.
UK Citizens
UK citizens have the same rights as an Irish citizen if you are ordinarily resident. This means that you are here to study a course of more than 12 months duration. If you are here as a UK visiting student for one semester or one year only, the UK government may pay for your healthcare.
Visiting EU Students
Students from other EU member states who are attending a course of study at UCC are entitled to access public health services in Ireland. We recommend that visiting European students have their European Health Insurance Card, which is issued in their home country, when they arrive in Ireland as this may be required to access these services.
While European students can avail of the public health service in Ireland, all students are advised that it is desirable to have cover for private medical care. Such cover would ensure that a student has choice of doctor, choice of hospital and choice of hospital accommodation in the event of illness.
Options for Private Health Insurance
There are many options available for private medical insurance. You can either:
- Obtain private health insurance from your home country. Please ensure that it is valid in Ireland. If you are coming to Ireland for a course of study that is more than 12 months in duration then you must purchase insurance from an Irish company.
- Obtain private health insurance from providers operating in the Irish Market.
Irish Health Insurance Companies:
There are many health insurance companies operating in Ireland for you to consider. All of these companies have agents who will be able to advise you on the costs of their policies and the best policy based on your needs and duration of stay. We have listed some of these companies for you below.
VHI Healthcare
UCC has a dedicated group scheme for non-EU/EEA with Vhi Healthcare. This scheme is available to students enrolled on an academic course of one year or more. It offers a discounted rate and concessions on the standard waiting periods that must be served when joining a health insurance plan. This means that UCC students will have immediate cover for all new and pre-existing conditions. Please read through the policy wording and prices via the links below. This policy is accepted for immigration purposes.
The Group Scheme Number with VHI is 92912 and you can read further information through the dedicated page for international students. Details of their main student plan is included in the link and payments must be made directly to Vhi in order to set up a policy (Vhi will contact you to confirm annual payment details). Please note the UCC pricing discount is given at time of purchase.
Vhi has a dedicated phone line for International Students which is +353 (0) 56 775 3157. Please reference the UCC group scheme number 92912 when talking with Vhi.
Study and Protect
Study and Protect is a specialist insurance broker providing tailored Insurance solutions for students travelling to Ireland for their studies.
Study and Protect provide solutions for:
Students on a course of 1 year or less (e.g. single semester or postgraduate programmes)
Students on a course of 1 academic year or less can avail of the Medicover range of products which are designed to cover accidental or unforeseen accident, illness or bodily injury and includes cover for Medical Repatriation. Medicover provides comprehensive cover for both public and private hospitals. More information on the Medicover product range can be found here: Medicover
Students on a course of more than one year (e.g. undergraduate progammes)
Students on a course of more than one academic year can avail of the Study In Ireland product provided by Study and Protect through Irish Life Health. The Study in Ireland plan is provided at a discounted rate by purchasing through Study and Protect and provides cover for both public and private hospitals. All plan waiting periods are waived meaning that the students have cover for new and pre-existing conditions. The waiver of waiting periods also applies to upgrades of plans enabling students to upgrade as needed if increased cover requirements are needed. More information can be found at: Study in Ireland
All plans are fully compliant with visa and immigration requirements.
Quotes can be obtained through the quote form at Study and Protect. All queries and assistance can be directed to studyandprotect@arachas.ie or by calling +353 (0)1 207 9431.
