This content is currently being reviewed. Read about your rights in cross-border healthcare under EU law and the regulations for cross-border healthcare under Irish law.
If you plan to travel abroad for inpatient or day case treatment under the CBD scheme, you can apply for ‘prior notification’.
Prior notification is optional, but it will:
- confirm if you are eligible to apply for healthcare costs before you travel abroad for your treatment
- give you an indication of how much you might receive - the actual amount can only be confirmed when you have had your treatment
It also gives you time to decide if you:
- can afford to pay for the healthcare upfront or can get funding for it
- are comfortable with the consultant and the hospital abroad
- are willing to pay for any shortfall between the cost of the healthcare abroad and how much you can claim back - you are responsible for paying any shortfall
Getting prior notification
To get prior notification, you must send us:
- your valid referral letter
- a completed prior notification form (PDF, 922 KB, 18 pages)
You must also provide proof that you had an outpatient consultation.
To do this, provide at least one of these:
- proof of payment for the outpatient consultation
- a copy of the medical notes or clinical letter from the outpatient consultation
- a copy of a letter confirming you are on a public inpatient or day case waiting list in Ireland for the healthcare listed in this application
We usually take about 20 working days to review and decide on your prior notification.
Completing the prior notification form
You and your consultant abroad must complete and sign the prior notification form.
You complete section A.
Your consultant completes section B. They must enter the correct DRG code for the proposed inpatient / day case treatment.
The consultant can get the correct DRG code from the Admitted patient price list summary (inpatient) (PDF, 418 KB, 13 pages) or Admitted patient price list summary (day-case) (PDF, 200 KB, 11 pages).
Send the completed form and the supporting documents to:
HSE Cross Border Directive,
National Contact Point,
St. Canice's Hospital Complex,
Dublin Road,
Kilkenny
If your healthcare changes
On the day of your healthcare, your consultant abroad may decide you need different or extra healthcare.
In this case, you can only claim for the healthcare you get. This may be different to the healthcare on your prior notification form.
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