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Medical cards & GP visit cards

Information on medical cards and GP visit cards.

Article by : SpunOut.ie

Apply online for a medical card/ GP visit card by visiting www.medicalcard.ie.

Medical cards allow people access to doctors, hospitals, community health services, dental services and to receive prescriptions at an extremely low cost rate (50 cent per prescription).

  • In order to get a medical card you must complete a form giving information about your earnings (if any).
  • If you are below the age of 16, your eligibility for a medical card will be based on your parent’s income and you will be entitled to health services as their child.
  • If you are between the ages of 16 and 25, and you are financially dependent on your parents, then you can apply and receive your own card if your parents are eligible for a medical card.
  • If you are not dependent on your parents, your own means and income will be assessed in the application.
  • Students can apply for the card via the Local Health Office where they attend college or where their parents live.
  • Medical cards are issued by the HSE’s 32 Local Health Authority offices. You can also apply online for a medical card/ GP visit card by visiting www.medicalcard.ie.

 

What if I am not eligible for a medical card?

You will receive a decision on your completed application within a short time of applying. If you are not satisfied with the decision, you can apply to have it reviewed at your Local Health Office. It may have been a simple case of leaving out important information on the form. If you still do not qualify you may appeal to the Appeals Office of your HSE Area. (The contact details will be contained in your letter of refusal). The Appeals Office will conduct a reassessment of your application. This will be conducted by HSE staff not involved in deciding on your original application.

GP Visit Cards:

If you are not entitled to a Medical Card you will automatically be assessed for a GP Visit Card. A GP Visit Card entitles you to visit your doctor for free. You will still have to pay for prescription medicine and any other health costs. The income limits are higher for GP Visit Cards, so more people will qualify for this than for a medical card.

The same application form is used for both the Medical Card and the GP Visit Card. Forms are available from your Local Health Centre, your Local Health Office, or you can apply online for a medical card/ GP visit card by visiting www.medicalcard.ie.


 Other HSE schemes:

If you are not entitled to a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card there are other HSE schemes that you can apply for. These schemes are as follows:

Drugs Payment Scheme – This scheme states that no family ever has to pay more than €132 a month for prescriptions drugs once they are registered for the scheme. The new rate of €132 applies from January 2012 onwards.

Long-Term Illness Scheme – If you have certain illnesses you are entitled to free prescriptions and appliances. Examples of long term illness include diabetes, epilepsy and spina bifida.

To apply for a medical card download this form and send it back to your local office. The contact details of your local office are listed here.

For further info on medical cards contact:
www.hse.ie/eng/Find_a_Service
Callsave: 1850 24 1850
Email: info@hse.ie

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