- Ireland does not accept U.S. health insurance, including Medicare. Therefore, at a minimum, we recommend you buy travel medical insurance for your trip to Ireland.
- Many travelers aren’t aware that Ireland has some occasional political unrest, pickpockets, tourist scams, and a lack of medical facilities in some rural areas.
- To protect yourself and your belongings, it’s a good idea to buy a comprehensive travel insurance plan that can cover these risks.
- Based on our research, our top picks for the best Ireland travel insurance come from Seven Corners, Generali Global Assistance, and Detour Insurance (skip ahead to view these plans).
- To help you find the best travel insurance policy for your trip to Ireland, try using an online comparison tool to look at coverage options and prices from multiple providers.
When you buy something using links found on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. This content is reviewed & supervised by The Los Angeles Times.
On This Page
- Key takeaways
- Do I need travel insurance to visit Ireland?
- Our top picks for the best travel insurance for Ireland
- Why Ireland travel insurance is important
- How much does travel insurance for Ireland cost?
- What types of travel insurance do I need for Ireland?
- What isn’t covered by travel insurance for Ireland?
- Tips for getting the best Ireland travel insurance
- Ireland travel information & requirements
- FAQs: Ireland travel insurance
- Related topics
On This Page
- Key takeaways
- Do I need travel insurance to visit Ireland?
- Our top picks for the best travel insurance for Ireland
- Why Ireland travel insurance is important
- How much does travel insurance for Ireland cost?
- What types of travel insurance do I need for Ireland?
- What isn’t covered by travel insurance for Ireland?
- Tips for getting the best Ireland travel insurance
- Ireland travel information & requirements
- FAQs: Ireland travel insurance
- Related topics
Travel Insurance for a Trip to Ireland: Compare Plans & Prices
Leigh Morgan - Personal Finance
+ 1 other
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
Our top picks for the best ireland travel insurance
Our top picks for the best travel insurance for Ireland
Best Rated Robust Coverage
Seven Corners
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Trip Protection Choice
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000
/
$1,000,000
Best Rated Plan for Emergency Assistance
Generali Global Assistance
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Preferred
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$150,000
/
$500,000
Best Value Coverage
Detour Insurance
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
The Edge Plus
Covers COVID
Yes
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$100,000
/
$1,000,000
Do I need travel insurance to visit Ireland?
Although Ireland has no laws requiring travelers to purchase insurance before they arrive, we recommend all American travelers to Ireland buy a travel insurance policy before leaving.
The main reason for this is that U.S. healthcare plans do not work abroad and paying a hospital bill in Euros can add up very quickly. So, travel insurance is well worth the cost. Additionally, travel insurance can reimburse you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short due to a reason stipulated in the policy. It can also cover the cost of hospital bills and medical transport back to the U.S. if needed.
Our top picks for the best travel insurance for Ireland
Advertiser Disclosure
Best Rated Robust Coverage
Full Policy Details
Seven Corners
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Trip Protection Choice
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000
/
$1,000,000
Why We Like It
PROS
- Offers coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Money-back guarantee
- Cancellation & Interruption coverage standard
- Covers action sports & equipment
CONS
- Cancel for any reason not included standard
- Must meet waiver for pre-existing conditions to be covered
Best Rated Plan for Emergency Assistance
Full Policy Details
Generali Global Assistance
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Preferred
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$150,000
/
$500,000
Why We Like It
PROS
- High emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage
- Cancelation & interruption coverage
- Offers hurricane and weather coverage
- Extensive loss or delay coverage.
CONS
- No pre-existing condition coverage
Best Value Coverage
Full Policy Details
Detour Insurance
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
The Edge Plus
Covers COVID
Yes
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$100,000
/
$1,000,000
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Why Ireland travel insurance is important
Risk of political unrest
Although Ireland has the lowest travel advisory level, you may be shocked to find that there is some risk of political unrest. This risk is especially high at the border separating Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland. During your visit, you may also encounter anti-war protests, making it important to stay aware of your surroundings. Many comprehensive travel insurance plans can cover cancellations or interruptions due to domestic terrorism or civil unrest.
Exploring isolated rural areas
Many people travel to Dublin, but Ireland also has numerous remote villages and counties. If you plan to travel to one of them, carrying medical evacuation insurance is important. This type of travel insurance pays to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility if you’re injured or come down with a serious illness. Many policies also cover repatriation expenses, which are the costs of returning to the United States from a foreign country.
Risk of pickpockets and tourist scams
Pickpockets in Dublin and other large cities tend to target travelers who aren’t familiar with the area and therefore pay less attention to their wallets, handbags and other possessions.
It’s important to note that travel insurance can cover stolen, damaged or lost belongings which can be a godsend if something happens to your stuff while traveling. It can even offer a stipend to replace clothing and other necessary items during your trip. While this may not replace sentimental or valuable items, it can at least ease your mind so your trip isn’t completely ruined.
How much does travel insurance for Ireland cost?
On the low end, travel insurance for a trip to Ireland can cost as little as around $1 a day. This type of policy will include basic medical and medical evacuation coverage.
For a policy that offers more protection, such as one with trip cancellation and interruption coverage, you can expect to pay around $7 to $11 per day.
To give you a better idea of how much travel insurance costs for a trip to Ireland, we got several quotes from top insurance providers.
Each quote is based on these trip details:
- Age: 35 years old
- Destination: Ireland
- Trip Length: 7 days
- Trip cost: $2,000
Our quotes for basic travel insurance are in this first table. The cheapest travel insurance costs less than $1 per day for this type of coverage.
Example Where Plan Doesn’t Reimburse the Full Trip Cost
| Provider | Plan Name | Plan Cost | Cancellation / Interruption Limits | Medical / Medevac Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin Leg | Standard | $5 | $0 / $0 | $30k / $200k |
| Trawick International | Safe Travels Explorer | $20 | $0 / $0 | $50k / $200k |
| Seven Corners | Trip Protection Basic | $25 | $0 / $1k | $100k / $250k |
| AXA Assistance USA | Silver | $42 | $0 / $500 | $25k / $100k |
For travel insurance that included trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, we found that you can expect to pay around $7 to $11 per day. You can see our quotes for these more comprehensive coverage options in the following table.
Example Where Plan Does Reimburse the Full Trip Cost
| Provider | Plan Name | Plan Cost | Cancellation / Interruption Limits | Medical / Medevac Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin Leg | Standard | $41 | $2k / $3k | $30k / $200k |
| Trawick International | Safe Travels Explorer | $57 | $2k / $2k | $50k / $200k |
| Seven Corners | Trip Protection Basic | $75 | $2k / $2k | $100k / $250k |
| AXA Assistance USA | Silver | $69 | $2k / $2k | $25k / $100k |
Advertiser Disclosure
What types of travel insurance do I need for Ireland?
At a minimum, we recommend you opt for a travel medical policy which covers medical expenses, medical evacuation costs, and cancellation for medical reasons. This is because American health insurance (including Medicare/Medicaid) doesn’t cover you abroad.
That said, here are some of the most useful types of travel insurance to have on hand when visiting Ireland:
Travel medical insurance
At a minimum, your travel insurance plan should include medical coverage. Travel medical insurance covers the cost of medical care you receive abroad. It can reimburse you for the cost of lab tests, X-rays, medications and other medical expenses. If you happen to get sick or injured while in Ireland, your insurance company will reimburse you for the cost of medical intervention, tests, and medications offered at the hospital.
Medical evacuation insurance
Although Ireland is small, it’s quite rural. Medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of picking you up and transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility if you’re injured or come down with a serious illness while you’re in a remote area. Therefore this coverage is important to consider for travel to Ireland.
Trip cancellation insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance plans will offer some form of trip cancellation coverage, and this type of protection is great to have for expensive trips overseas. Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip to Ireland before it even starts. For example, if you catch COVID shortly before your trip, you should be able to get reimbursed for what you spent on flights, hotels and other prepaid trip expenses. Trip cancellation insurance usually covers unforeseen circumstances, such as illnesses, injuries and deaths.
Optional CFAR insurance add-on
To ensure you’re covered for any type of cancellation, you can also purchase cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance which allows you to cancel for any reason at all. This type of coverage is usually sold as an add-on to your policy and will reimburse you for around 50% to 70% of your total prepaid travel expenses.
Trip interruption insurance
If you have to cut your trip short due to a covered reason like injury or illness, trip interruption coverage can reimburse you for your prepaid non-refundable trip expenses for the remainder of your trip.
Depending on the circumstances, your insurance company may also reimburse you for changing your new flights to get home early or re-route your trip once you are recovered. This may also include supplementing the cost of alternate hotel bookings, or cab fare.
For example, if you miss several tours you already paid for due to a bout of food poisoning, you may be able to get back what you spent on admission and other fees by using trip interruption insurance.
Trip delay insurance
Much like trip cancellation insurance, trip delay insurance reimburses you for expenses incurred due to common carrier delays (airlines, bus lines, train companies, etc). Given that a delay can cause a massive domino effect on connections, hotels, tours, and car bookings, this type of insurance is key for overseas travel like Ireland.
In most cases, you will be reimbursed if the delay reaches a minimum amount of time, such as six hours or 12 hours. For example, if your flight is delayed by 12 hours, you may have to stay in Ireland for an extra night. Trip delay insurance may cover your additional hotel, food and transportation costs. Note that this type of coverage may not be offered by cheaper travel plans.
Insurance for personal items
Due to the amount of lost baggage and the increase in pick-pockets these days, insuring your personal items is key when traveling to Ireland.
Some companies offer insurance for baggage and personal items (phone, computer, etc), giving you extra protection. If a covered item is lost or stolen during your trip, your insurer will reimburse you up to the coverage limit.
Rental car coverage
Rental car coverage can be very expensive when bought through the car rental agency. The good news is many travel insurance policies offer coverage for this as part of your travel policy.
If you plan to rent a car in Ireland, it’s wise to purchase a policy with rental car coverage that can pay to repair a damaged rental vehicle. Most plans cover up to around $35,000 of damages.
What isn’t covered by travel insurance for Ireland?
When buying travel insurance for Ireland, you should know that it typically won’t cover the following scenarios:
- Claims resulting from intentional acts
- Expenses arising from illegal activities, alcohol, or drugs
- Expenses for medical tourism
- Normal bad weather
- Buying coverage after a storm has been named
Additionally, some policies may have restrictions for the following
- Pre-existing medical conditions (see link for special policies)
- Some adventure sports (often an add-on coverage)
All of these scenarios vary by provider, so we recommend having a look at the “exclusions” section of each travel policy before you buy.
Advertiser Disclosure
Tips for getting the best Ireland travel insurance
To get the best travel insurance for your trip to Ireland, follow these tips:
1
Shop around.
Don’t be afraid to compare several quotes to see if you can save money without sacrificing coverage.
2
Check with your credit card issuer.
Determine if you already have some travel insurance benefits. For example, many travel credit cards offer rental car protection.
3
Determine how much coverage you need.
If you don’t plan to participate in adventure sports, you probably don’t need to pay for a plan that includes coverage for mountain climbing, parasailing and other risky activities.
Ireland travel information & requirements
| Query | Details |
|---|---|
| Is a tourist visa required for U.S. visitors? | No |
| How long can you stay without a visa? | 90 days |
| Passport requirements | Must be valid for the duration of your stay and have at least one blank page |
| Vaccine requirements | None; CDC recommends all routine vaccines before traveling |
| COVID test required? | No |
| Travel advisory level | Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions |
| Emergency services phone number | 112 or 999 |
| Is U.S. health insurance accepted? | No |
| Travel insurance required? | Not required, but highly recommended |
| Local currency | Euro |
| Currency exchange rate | $1 USD = 0.92 EUR |
Are there COVID-19 restrictions for U.S. tourists?
As of March 2022, Ireland has no entry restrictions related to COVID-19. You don’t need to provide proof of vaccination, take a COVID-19 test or quarantine when you arrive at your destination.
Do I need a visa or passport to travel to Ireland?
To travel to Ireland, you must have a valid U.S. passport. You don’t need a visa for leisure trips of any length, but you do need one for any business trip lasting longer than 90 days.
Is it safe to visit Ireland?
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 1 travel advisory for Ireland, which indicates the lowest level of risk. Ireland has low rates of violent crime, but you should still pay attention to your surroundings and take steps to protect your belongings against theft and vandalism.
FAQs: Ireland travel insurance
Can I use my American insurance in Ireland?
No. Medicare and Medicaid don’t cover any medical services received overseas. It’s also rare for a private health plan to cover expenses incurred outside the United States.
Therefore, we recommend you buy an affordable medical travel insurance policy at a minimum.
Can Americans get free healthcare in Ireland?
No. Irish citizens receive healthcare benefits through the Department of Social Protection, but these benefits aren’t available to tourists from other countries. You must pay all medical costs upfront or buy a travel insurance plan to cover the costs.
What documents do you need to travel to Ireland?
American travelers need a valid U.S. passport. You’ll also need a visa if you’re planning to stay in the country for more than 90 days.
Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.
In the last five years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.
In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.
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