Travel Insurance to Ireland

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Ireland?

Legally, no. If you want peace of mind, probably. While there's no Irish law requiring visitors to carry travel insurance, it's generally a good idea. That's because U.S. health insurance typically isn't recognized in Ireland. You also can't use Medicare or Medicaid outside of the U.S.

In the unfortunate event you needed medical attention, you'd have to pay for any care you receive in Ireland on your own.

Without travel insurance, for example, if you sprain your ankle hiking in the countryside and treat your injury at a local hospital, you may have to pay the entire bill yourself. You may also lose any nonrefundable prepaid deposits if you need to cancel your trip. You might also be on the hook for meals or lodging if bad weather delays your travels, among other hassles travel insurance protects against.

Given the financial risk, you may want to secure a travel policy before your trip as protection against a large medical expense while you're away.

Learn more: What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

What Does Travel Insurance for Ireland Cover?

Policy options vary from one provider to another. And when it comes to picking coverages, you may not know what you need, especially if you don't travel often. Consult an insurance agent to get help identifying which coverages are important and which ones you can do without. Your coverage may include:

• Medical care and evacuation: If you get injured or sick during your time in Ireland, this coverage option could help you pay for your medical care. For example, if you're hurt and the local hospital doesn't provide the type of care you need, you may need to fly by air ambulance to a more distant hospital. Without this coverage, this type of bill could cost you thousands of dollars.
• Trip cancellation: This policy option can come in handy if you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason such as illness, natural disaster or the death of a family member. Most coverage can reimburse you up to 100% for prepaid expenses.
• Trip delays and interruptions: Ireland travel insurance may cover delays caused by factors like bad weather, natural disasters and airline crew shortages. This benefit can help cover the costs of a hotel stay, meals and other expenses resulting from delays.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR): Some travel insurance companies offer what's known as cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage. This optional upgrade allows you to cancel your trip up to 48 hours before your departure for almost any reason, even those not listed as covered on your policy. You can still recover between 50% and 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable costs.
• Baggage and belongings: If your luggage is lost, delayed or stolen, coverage can reimburse you for your personal items.
• Rental car coverage: According to An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police service, theft from vehicles is down 24% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Still, you may want this coverage just in case a thief hits your car. This benefit can also help cover repairs if your rental car suffers damage in an accident or another covered incident.

How Much Does Travel Insurance for Ireland Cost?

The cost of travel insurance for an Ireland trip varies, depending on your coverage options and add-ons. According to data from travel insurance comparison platform Squaremouth, the average traveler spent about $325 for comprehensive coverage on a $5,000, 15-day trip, which works out to about $22 per day. If you just want basic medical protection, coverage can run as low as $11 per day or as high as $31 per day for plans that include trip cancellation.

Insurers typically base plan costs as a percentage between 4% and 8% of your total travel costs for the trip, according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association. The cost of your plan can vary based on factors such as how many travelers the policy covers, how long you'll be in Ireland and the type of activities you plan to do. Of course, upgrades can push up the price of your plan. CFAR coverage, for example, can increase your policy costs from 40% to 60%.

Learn more: Average Cost of Travel Insurance

Is Travel Insurance for Ireland Worth It?

The affordability of travel insurance for Ireland makes it a good option for the peace of mind it offers during your trip. Here are four situations where having coverage can be worth it if you want:

• Low-cost protection against potentially high bills: Travel policies in Ireland can cost between $10 a day for medical-only coverage and roughly $40 a day for more comprehensive coverage. But a single medical evacuation could cost thousands of dollars. The risk-to-reward ratio works in your favor here.
• Reimbursements for flight disruptions: You may experience flight delays and cancellations, especially if you travel to Ireland during the summer or holiday seasons or you have multiple layovers. Insurance can reimburse you for meals, hotel nights and even prepaid reservations you miss as a result.
• Trip cancellation coverage: While you're probably excited about the adventures you'll experience in Ireland, there's always the unexpected chance you'll need to cancel your trip. If you or a family member is injured, sick or goes through another covered event before you leave, trip cancellation coverage can refund your prepaid costs. You may also get a partial reimbursement for non-covered expenses if you opted for the CFAR add-on.
• Health coverage abroad: If you want health insurance during your trip, a travel policy can cover certain medical costs since your U.S. health insurance usually won't cover you in Ireland.

Tip: You might not need travel insurance in Ireland if your trip is short or if you're traveling on business and plan to stay mostly in hotels while attending business meetings.

Learn more: Should You Buy Travel Insurance?

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Ireland

Here are some tips to help you secure the best travel coverage for your trip.

• Ensure solid medical coverage. U.S. health insurance typically isn't accepted in Ireland, so you should at least purchase travel medical insurance for protection against potentially large bills should something happen.
• Consider policy limits and deductibles. Just as you would at home in the States, you'll want to make sure your policy's limits are sufficient and deductibles are affordable. Work with a travel insurance agent who can review your trip and recommend coverage options and limits. It's generally recommended to carry at least $250,000 in medical coverage and emergency evacuation coverage in Ireland.
• Check your credit cards first. You may already have some travel insurance benefits through your credit cards. Check your benefits guide or contact your card issuer to confirm what's covered and whether you need extra coverage.
• Shop around and compare plans. You can get travel insurance through insurance companies, airlines, credit cards or organizations like AAA and AARP. Since costs and coverages vary by providers, compare plans from several carriers to find the best balance of coverage and price.
• Confirm coverage for your entire trip. If you're traveling to several countries, make sure your plan covers you in each of them. Some policies exclude or limit coverage in certain countries.
• Consider add-ons. Standard protection may not cover everything you encounter in Ireland, so you might want to pay a little extra for optional coverage. Explore costs for CFAR or other add-on benefits that can give you broader protection.

Protect Your Trip to Ireland With Travel Insurance

Before you leave for the Emerald Isle, compare costs and coverages for several travel insurance plans. This coverage is usually an inexpensive way to ensure peace of mind while you travel, knowing you're covered if something goes wrong. As you explore different policy plans, check the exclusions to make sure you aren't missing out on coverage you need.It's also a good idea to check your credit cards to see which ones offer credit card travel insurance. This coverage usually isn't as extensive as standalone travel insurance, but it may reimburse you for a wide variety of covered costs. If you want a card with this type of coverage for your Ireland adventure, consider looking at travel credit cards.