New scheme opens temporary access to healthcare in Northern Ireland
Transitional arrangements in place for patients due to receive treatment in the UK
A new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme, operational for 2021, has replaced the former Cross Border Directive in providing reimbursement of private healthcare for patients from the Republic for a 12 month period.
The Government approved the introduction of the new scheme at the end of December to run on an ‘administrative basis’ for 12 months. The new scheme is to enable anyone living in the Republic to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the Health Service Executive (HSE), provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.