Spouses of Defence Forces personnel now eligible for €1.50 weekly cross-border health cover

Last year, PDForra expanded the service to allow veterans to sign up, and to date, more than 1,500 have joined

Enlisted Defence Forces personnel will be able to get spouses and partners included for low-cost cross-border health cover in the latest expansion of PDForra’s medical assistance scheme.

The scheme, known as PMAS, was originally set up by the association in 2018 to fast-track care for injured personnel who were often on lengthy waiting lists in Ireland for surgery.

It has over 3,500 serving members who pay just €1.50 per week, which entitles them to treatment at the Kingsbridge Private Hospitals in Belfast and Derry.

Last year, PDForra expanded the service to allow veterans to sign up, and to date, more than 1,500 have joined.

The further expansion of the cover for spouses and partners of serving personnel was announced at PDForra’s annual conference.

PMAS Director Damien Quigley said spouses and partners can now be insured, again for just €1.50 a week each.

The only criteria to qualify are that they must be ordinarily resident in this country, registered with a GP, and have a PPS number.

It is expected that thousands more people will take up the medical cover.

Since PMAS’s inception, it’s estimated that its members have availed of nearly €3 million in cross-border healthcare.

To date, PMAS has helped more than 750 serving members access essential medical treatment, with many having undergone multiple procedures.

Mr Quigley said many had back, shoulder, and knee surgeries, which are common injuries associated with the rigours of military service.

While the majority of medical procedures have occurred in Northern Ireland, there have been some instances where the surgical expertise needed wasn't available there, and PMAS has paid for some Defence Forces members to get treatment at private hospitals in mainland Europe.

The scheme has enabled injured soldiers, sailors, and aircrew to return to work far faster than if they had waited for HSE treatment in Ireland, thereby saving the State considerable funds over the years.

PMAS members must pay for treatment upfront and are later reimbursed by the HSE.

To support Defence Forces members in paying upfront, PMAS partnered with the Defence Forces ANSAC Credit Union to help defray costs.

Whenever surgery costs have been confirmed, PMAS guarantees the member’s loan from ANSAC. Once the HSE reimburses the member, PMAS pays the shortfall between the total cost of treatment and the HSE reimbursement. The PMAS scheme also covers any accrued interest on the ANSAC loan.

Mr Quigley said getting official acknowledgment of PMAS by the Department of Defence would not only validate the scheme’s achievements to date but also bolster confidence among members, partners, and stakeholders.

“We would welcome the opportunity to explore ways in which the Department might lend its support to this important initiative,” he told delegates.