Health insurance in Northern Ireland

Private health insurance can be used alongside the free healthcare you already get in Northern Ireland.

Free healthcare is available through Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSC). This works in a similar way to the NHS.

Health insurance offers a fast way to get seen by a doctor or other health professional, when you need to.

It can also help you get tested, diagnosed and treated fast, too. Private clinics can also offer you choice and flexibility.

Health insurance covers you for conditions that start after you take out your policy.

The price of health insurance is calculated using different key factors.

This includes factors such as your age, where you live and the level of cover you choose.

Bupa’s health insurance is designed to cover conditions that develop after your cover has started. This means you usually wouldn’t be covered for conditions you had before your cover was in place. These are often called pre-existing conditions.

More about the cost of health insurance

It’s worth checking you can get treatment at private facilities near you or before taking our health insurance.

If you live in a rural area, you may need to travel further. The type of specialist or consultant that you need to see will also affect this.

If you need to see a doctor for a more common condition, you’re likely to have more options to pick from than if you need a very specialist doctor.

You should be able to use remote services, such as digital GP services, the same way as you would in England.