Viscacare frequently asked questions

Question 1

What is a Digital Health Centre and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

A Digital Health Centre is one place where your health actually joins up: your records, your wearable trends, your blood results, your travel and country context, and access to a real online Doctor. Today most care is transactional and postcode-based — you get ten minutes with someone who has never met you, in a system tied to where you happen to be registered. Viscacare is built the other way round: your health information travels with you, so care is continuous rather than starting from zero every time you move.

Question 2

How is Viscacare different from a normal online doctor service?

Accepted Answer

A normal online doctor service sells you a single appointment and forgets you. Viscacare is a membership that keeps context between visits. Ask Mia, your Digital Health Companion, holds the general guidance and healthcare system knowledge; your Vault holds your records, documents and wearable trends; and when you need clinical care you see a regulated online Doctor through our clinical partner Health Hero across Ireland and the UK. The consultation is one part of the service, not the whole product.

Question 3

How does the Viscacare 14-day free trial work?

Accepted Answer

Every Viscacare plan starts with a 14-day free trial. You register, get full access to your Digital Health Centre — Ask Mia, health guides for 170+ countries and online Doctor access — and you are not charged during the trial. Your first payment is taken at the end of day 14 unless you cancel first. One exception: if you book and use an online Doctor appointment during the trial and then cancel, a €39 fee applies for each appointment used, the standard market rate for a private consultation.

Question 4

What happens if I cancel my Viscacare membership?

Accepted Answer

You have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period and can withdraw without giving a reason; if you have not used an online Doctor appointment you pay nothing, and if you have, a €39 fee applies per appointment used. After the trial, memberships carry a 6-month minimum term, so cancelling inside that period leaves you liable for the remaining monthly payments up to month 6. After 6 months it is rolling monthly and you can cancel any time.

Question 5

Who are the doctors behind Viscacare?

Accepted Answer

Online Doctor consultations are delivered by Health Hero, a regulated clinical provider, using doctors registered with the relevant medical authorities. They can diagnose, prescribe where clinically appropriate, refer you to specialists and issue medical certificates. Your membership gives you online Doctor access, 7 days a week, across Ireland and the UK, so you are not tied to one practice list or postcode.

Question 6

Can I get a prescription from an online doctor in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Where it is clinically appropriate, a registered doctor consulting online can issue a prescription in Ireland, sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice. Irish pharmacy rules mean some medicines — including most controlled drugs — cannot be prescribed remotely, and a prescription issued in one country is not automatically valid in another. Through Viscacare, prescribing is handled by regulated doctors via Health Hero within the rules of the country you are in.

Question 7

Is Ask Mia medical advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Ask Mia offers general guidance and healthcare system information, not medical advice or diagnosis. It can explain what a country charges for treatment, what your cover includes, what a document or result means in plain language, and what to do next — but it will never diagnose you or tell you which treatment to take. For anything clinical, Viscacare connects you to a regulated online Doctor through Health Hero.

Question 8

Are specialist appointments included in my membership?

Accepted Answer

No. Your membership covers online Doctor consultations, prescriptions, referrals and medical certificates. Specialist pathways — including weight management (GLP-1), ADHD, female and male health specialists, health screening, blood tests and counselling — are charged separately by the clinic or practitioner. Where available, Viscacare negotiates member-only pricing on your behalf, so you typically pay less than the public rate.

Question 9

Is healthcare free in Europe for tourists?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your nationality. EU/EEA citizens with a valid EHIC or GHIC card receive free or reduced-cost public healthcare across all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Non-EU visitors need travel insurance — without it, you will be billed. Emergency treatment is provided regardless, but costs vary: an ER visit is free in the UK, €18 in Portugal, and can exceed €500 in Switzerland.

Question 10

What should I do in a medical emergency abroad?

Accepted Answer

Call the local emergency number immediately — 112 works across all EU countries, 911 in the USA and Canada, 999 in the UK and Ireland, 000 in Australia. If you have travel insurance, contact your insurer's 24/7 assistance line as soon as possible for direct billing. Carry your insurance details, passport, and a list of any medications or allergies. Viscacare provides emergency numbers for 170+ countries.

Question 11

How much does an ER visit cost without insurance?

Accepted Answer

Costs vary dramatically by country. In the USA, an ER visit costs $2,500–$10,000+. In Canada, $500–$3,000+. In the UAE, AED 500–3,000 ($135–$815). In Thailand, ฿3,000–10,000 ($85–$285). In France, EU/EEA visitors with EHIC pay nothing at public hospitals. In the UK, A&E is free for everyone. Always check before you travel — Viscacare covers costs for 170+ countries.

Question 12

Can I use my prescription medication abroad?

Accepted Answer

Rules vary by country. Bring medication in original packaging with a doctor's letter. Some countries ban common medications — codeine is restricted in the UAE, Japan, and Greece; Adderall is banned in Japan. For the EU, carry no more than 3 months' supply. Some countries (Mexico, Turkey, Greece) allow more medications over the counter than others. Always check local rules before travelling.

Question 13

Do I need vaccinations before travelling?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your destination. Yellow fever vaccination is required for parts of Africa and South America. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended for India, Southeast Asia, and Central America. Japan Encephalitis may be needed for rural Asia. Some countries require proof of vaccination for entry. Consult a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure for personalised advice.

Viscacare frequently asked questions — membership, free trial, online Doctor access, prescriptions and your health data

Your questions, answered