HSE Cross Border Directive Loan
On a waiting list for treatment in Ireland?
The HSE Cross Border Directive allows patients to access healthcare in another EU or EEA country which they are normally entitled to in Ireland but for which there might be long waiting periods.
We have a special loan product designed to help members pay the upfront costs of their treatment before being reimbursed by the HSE.
Designed specifically around the terms of the scheme
💫 How does it work?
You apply for the loan with People First Credit Union and pay for the surgery using the funds. After 12-14 weeks, the HSE will refund the cost of the surgery and you use these funds to repay and clear your loan with PFCU.
✨ Is there assistance available?
A company funded by the HSE or the HSE directly assist members in organising a hospital and surgery. PFCU are unable to assist you with any aspect of organising treatment. Contact the HSE for more information.
Calculate your repayments
Maximum Loan Term :
This calculator is for illustrative purposes only, to give you, the borrower, an overview of the potential cost of borrowing. Whilst every care has been made in the production of information, People First Credit Union, or any of its staff, cannot be held responsible for any errors. This calculator only provides an indicative quote and actual repayments may vary. Loans are subject to approval, terms and conditions apply. If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears and this may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.
Representative Example: If you borrow €5,000 over 3 years (36 months), the interest rate is 8.99% per annum (9.2% Representative APR), your monthly repayment would be €159, and the total amount repayable would be €5,724.
Terms and Features
Loan Amount and Term
- The maximum loan amount is €20,000 and the maximum term is 10 years.
- Your application will be assessed on your capacity to meet the repayments.
- The interest rate on this loan is 8.99% (9.2% APR)
Required Documents
- 3 months bank statements
- 2 recent payslips
- Proof of Address (within last 6 months)
- Photo ID (driving licence or passport)
- Other documentation may be requested by the Loan Officer.
Eligibility
- You must be aged over 18
- You must have a minimum of €20 in your savings
- You must be a resident in our common bond and have permission to reside in Ireland
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We've made the application process simple and accessible for you.
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Want to apply over the phone, or just looking for some information?
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you apply.
We want your loan application process to be as simple as possible. There are four ways to apply for a loan.
- Apply through our mobile app
- Apply through our website
- Apply over the phone
- Apply in any of our branches (no appointment needed)
Click here to get started.
Right away!
Once you have €20 in your shares, you can apply for a loan.
No, you don't need to make an appointment for a loan application!
Our four branches have full-time lenders available to speak with. Loan office opening hours are slightly different from the office hours, see here for more information.
Yes.
The loan officer will assess the application in the same way as a new loan application. There are limits on how many top-ups you can receive in a specific time period, and the lender will advise you if we are unable to approve your top-up loan application due to these limits.
You will need to provide supporting documents:
- Proof of income (recent payslips or set of accounts)
- 3 months of bank statements.
We may require additional documentation for certain loans, the lender assessing your loan will advise you of this.
We’ve made providing your documents simple. Choose “Open Banking” when applying and you can securely provide us with a transaction listing from your bank account – no need to be downloading, printing, and sending your statements!
Every loan application is assessed carefully and fairly. Our goal is to lend responsibly and to ensure that repayments are affordable for you. When reviewing your application, we look at:
- Repayment capacity: We consider your income and expenses to make sure the loan can be comfortably repaid.
- Credit history: We may use the Central Credit Register to review your history on loans you’ve taken with other financial institutions.
- Savings and account activity: Your relationship with the credit union, including savings history, can help us understand your financial habits.
- Purpose of the loan: Understanding what the loan is for helps us tailor the product to your needs.
We assess each application individually, not by automated scoring alone. Our focus is on supporting members while ensuring loans are granted in a sustainable way.
There are no penalties for early repayment, and we encourage members to talk to us if their circumstances change. This approach ensures we lend in a way that is fair, transparent, and aligned with our members’ best interests.
Yes. You can pay your loan early with no penalties or fees.
People First Credit Union is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be over 18 and resident in the Republic of Ireland. Loan approval is subject to a satisfactory assessment of suitability and affordability.
| WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit report, which may limit your ability to access credit, a hire-purchase agreement, a consumer-hire agreement or a BNPL-agreement in the future. |
