Unmet healthcare needs in Ireland. ESRI Research Bulletin 2016/06

Connolly, Sheelah and Wren, Maev-Ann (2016) Unmet healthcare needs in Ireland. ESRI Research Bulletin 2016/06. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

Relatively high user charges for GP consultations (for those without a medical/GP visit card) and long waits for public hospital services can act as barriers to accessing needed care in Ireland. However, there has been relatively little research on unmet healthcare needs in Ireland. In 2014, approximately 38 per cent of the population had a medical card, while 3.5 per cent had a GP visit card. Cardholders are eligible for GP care without fees and there has been previous evidence that non-cardholders may not visit a GP because of cost (O’Reilly et al. 2007). Approximately 42 per cent of the population hold private health insurance, which is mainly used to provide cover for private or semi-private acute hospital services, thereby avoiding potentially long waits for public hospital services. While those with a medical card can purchase private health insurance, the numbers doing so are relatively small. There is also a group of people without private health insurance and/or a medical card. This paper examines how these differing levels of cover for medical care may affect the experience of unmet need for care in Ireland.

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