If you plan to have inpatient or day case treatment, you can apply for prior notification before you travel to Northern Ireland for treatment.
You still need to apply for healthcare costs after you have your healthcare in Northern Ireland.
Prior notification is optional.
Benefits of prior notification
If you apply for prior notification, we can:
- confirm if you are eligible to apply for healthcare costs
- give you an indication of how much you might get
We can only confirm the exact amount after your treatment.
Prior notification 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
How to apply
To apply, send us a completed a prior notification application form.
The healthcare professional in Northern Ireland must complete section 4.
What documents you need to provide
With your completed application form, provide proof that you had an outpatient consultation.
You also need to provide a copy of one of the following:
- a referral letter
- a letter confirming you are on a public waiting list in the Republic of Ireland for the healthcare listed in your application
Examples of proof you had an outpatient consultation
Examples include a copy of:
- the medical notes or clinical letter from the outpatient consultation
- a letter confirming you are on a public inpatient or day case waiting list in the Republic of Ireland for the healthcare listed in this application
- your proof of payment for the outpatient consultation
If you provide proof of payment, you must also provide proof that you paid the healthcare provider directly.
Examples of proof you made the payment include a copy of:
- bank or credit card statement
- credit or debit card receipt
- electronic fund transfer (EFT) from your account to the healthcare provider’s account
- bank draft paid to the healthcare provider
cash receipt from the healthcare provider, if you paid in cash
If you are applying for orthodontic treatment for a child, you also need to provide a copy of a letter from your HSE orthodontic service to show they are eligible for treatment.
If your healthcare changes
On the day of your healthcare, the healthcare professional 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.