How much is health insurance in Ireland?

The official figures for 2026

The HIA is the State regulator for private health insurance. It publishes market figures every quarter. These are the latest:

The "weighted" average gives more weight to plans with more members, so it reflects what people actually buy. The HIA says it assumes everyone pays the current adult price, with no lifetime community rating loading and no discounts for groups, young adults or children.

A household with more than one person pays more than one premium. In the HIA's 2025 consumer survey, the average household cost was over €2,500, up from €2,185 in 2023.

Who sells health insurance in Ireland

The HIA lists four open membership insurers that sell inpatient health insurance to anyone: Irish Life Health, Laya Healthcare, Level Health and Vhi Healthcare. Level Health is the brand of Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, the HIA register says (see our Aviva page). HSF Health Plan sells cash plans only.

There are also restricted membership schemes for particular groups, for example members of An Garda Síochána, the HIA says.

Why prices vary so much

By law, everyone who buys a particular plan pays the same price, whatever their age, gender or health, with a few exceptions set out below. So the gap between €448 and €4,013 comes from what each plan covers. The HIA points to these differences:

• Hospital cover. Insurers generally group hospitals into public hospitals, private hospitals and high-tech private hospitals such as the Blackrock Clinic, the Mater Private and the Beacon Hospital. The HIA says 8% of consumers have plans that cover mainly public hospitals, and these are typically cheaper.
• Room type. Plans cover a semi-private room (up to five beds) or a private room (one bed). Both depend on availability, so you may share a room even with private room cover.
• Inpatient excess. This is the part of a hospital claim you pay yourself. In the HIA's example, a €5,000 procedure with a €50 excess means you pay €50 and the insurer pays €4,950. Taking on an excess can get you a cheaper policy.
• Shortfalls. A shortfall is the part of your treatment that is not covered, usually charged each night. With a €150 shortfall for a private room, you pay €150 a night.
• Outpatient benefits. GP, physiotherapy and consultant visits are often limited by an annual limit and an annual outpatient excess. In the HIA's example, with a €250 outpatient excess and €60 back per consultant visit, you get nothing back until your fifth visit.
• Major procedures. The HIA's 2025 market report found more than 70% of people are on plans with restricted orthopaedic cover. Hip and knee replacements may not be fully covered on some plans.

A group or company scheme can cut the price of a policy by up to 10%, the HIA says. Some insurers build this discount into their prices, so ask before you buy.

Tax relief at source

You do not claim tax relief on health insurance yourself if you pay the insurer directly. Revenue gives it as a discount on the price, called Tax Relief at Source (TRS). From 1 January 2026, Revenue says the rate is the standard rate of tax, 20%, on all policies with medical cover:

The insurer takes the discount off and you pay the rest, Revenue says. The HIA's own example uses a policy that costs €1,000 after tax relief, which is €1,200 before it.

If your employer pays, the employer gets the TRS discount. You pay tax on the full cost of the policy and may be able to claim Medical Insurance Relief from Revenue. Part of a premium that pays for routine dental care does not qualify, so a "blended rate" below 20% may apply to policies with dental cover, Revenue says.

You can also claim tax relief on medical costs your insurer did not pay. The HIA's example: if a GP visit cost €60 and your insurer paid €20, you can claim relief on the other €40. Keep your receipts.

Children and young adults

The HIA sets out the main exceptions to one price for everyone:

• Children. A child's policy must cost no more than 50% of the adult premium.
• Young adults. People aged 18 to 25 can get a reduced "young adult" rate on certain policies. You do not need to be a student, and there is no student discount as such.
• New babies. Babies and children added to a policy within 13 weeks of birth or adoption do not serve waiting periods.

Note the two different ages. For the HIA price rules a young adult is 18 to 25. For Revenue's tax relief, a child is anyone under 21.

When age does change the price

Age matters if you first buy cover at 35 or older. You pay a lifetime community rating loading of 2% of the gross cost for each year aged 35 or over without cover, up to 70%, for up to 10 years (HIA). The HIA says 5.7% of insured people were paying a loading in 2025.

Our guide to lifetime community rating has worked examples and the credits you can get for earlier cover.

When paying for more cover may not be worth it

More cover is not always better value. The HIA suggests thinking about how often you would claim. Its example: if you visit the dentist once a year, a cheaper policy without dental cover may make sense.

The same goes for outpatient cover. If you rarely see a GP or physiotherapist, a policy with lower outpatient benefits may cost less, the HIA says. If you would want private orthopaedic or eye treatment, check those benefits closely.

Public care is an option too. Since April 2023, there is no charge for treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, the HIA says. You can have a medical card and private health insurance at the same time. A private patient in a public hospital is charged €659 to €813 a night for a semi-private room and €800 to €1,000 for a private room, plus consultant fees, according to the HIA.

Cash plans pay fixed amounts and do not cover a hospital stay as a private patient. If you already have inpatient cover, check its outpatient benefits before you add a cash plan, the HIA advises.

How to check your own price

• Read your renewal notice. Benefits and prices can change at renewal, the HIA warns.
• Use the HIA's free comparison tool at hia.ie, which lists every plan on the market.
• Compare the excess, shortfalls and hospital list, not just the price.
• Ask about group, young adult and child rates.

If you find a similar plan for less, our guide to switching health insurance covers waiting periods and timing. Our health insurance guide has an overview.

Sources

• Health Insurance Authority: Quarterly report on health insurance, Q1 2026, as at 31 March 2026 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: Q2 2026 Market Bulletin press release (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: Annual Market Report 2025 press release, 3 June 2026 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: 2025 Consumer Survey press release, 24 March 2026 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: FAQ (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: Choosing a policy (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: Claims and excesses (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: Health Insurance Explained (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: Waiting periods (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Health Insurance Authority: Register of health benefits undertakings (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Revenue: Tax Relief at Source (TRS) from 1 January 2026 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Revenue: Tax Relief at Source (TRS) (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Revenue: If your employer pays for your medical insurance premium (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Citizens Information: Private health insurance (accessed 9 November 2026)