In Ireland, everybody is charged the same premium for a particular health insurance plan, irrespective of their age, gender and the current or likely future state of their health. This is called Community Rating.

On the 1st May 2015, the government introduced Lifetime Community Rating legislation. Under Lifetime Community Rating (LCR), community rating is modified to reflect the age at which a person takes out private health insurance. Late entry loadings are applied to the premiums of those who join the health insurance market at age 35 or over.

If you are 35 years of age or over and you do not have health insurance, it will cost you more due to Lifetime Community Rating.

If you take out private health insurance earlier in life, and retain it, you will pay lower premiums compared to someone who joins when they are older.