This chapter tells you what you need to know about using public health services in Ireland, including how to apply for a medical card. For information on eligibility for health services for those who have lived, worked and/or paid insurance in another EU country please see the section below titled ‘What am I entitled to and how can I claim?’.

In what situation can I claim?

The Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons who are ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (individuals/families with full eligibility are awarded a medical card) and limited eligibility (all others).

Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual's eligibility status is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and requires the completion of an application process.

Individuals/families that are below a higher means threshold are eligible for GP services and are awarded a General Practitioner (GP) visit card.

All persons under the age of 6 years and over the age of 70 years are eligible for GP care without fees.

What conditions do I need to meet?

Full eligibility is subject to being ordinarily resident in Ireland and to income guidelines. A person will be considered ordinarily resident in Ireland if he/she satisfies the HSE that it is his/her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year.

The HSE, in order to determine a person’s level of eligibility, carries out a financial assessment under the income guidelines. The assessment is based on the gross income, less income tax, PRSI contributions and USC, of the applicant and spouse. The resulting income is then compared to the appropriate medical card/ GP visit card income guidelines for the particular family size. Allowances are also made for any rent or mortgage payments, childcare expenses and travel to work costs.

If a person, applying for a medical card, has an income in excess of the relevant income guidelines, the HSE must consider if refusing eligibility would result in undue hardship to that person and his/her dependants and may award a medical card or GP visit card subject to certain criteria.

Applicants whose weekly incomes are derived solely from Department of Social Protection (social welfare) or HSE allowances/payments will be granted medical cards.

A separate assessment process exists for persons aged 70 years and over whereby a gross weekly income limit applies.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Persons with full eligibility (i.e. the individual/family are below the means threshold and are awarded a medical card) are entitled to a range of services free of charge including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service.  Other services such as allied health professional services may be available to medical card holders.

Approved prescribed drugs and medicines are available without cost, subject to a €1.50 per item prescription charge (maximum €15 per month per individual/family). The prescription charge for medical card holders aged 70 and over is €1 per item (maximum €10 per month).

Individuals/families that are below a higher means threshold are eligible for GP services and are awarded a GP visit card. Applications for a medical card, where unsuccessful, are automatically assessed for a GP visit card.

All persons under the age of 6 years and over the age of 70 years are eligible for GP care without fees.

Persons with limited eligibility (those not awarded a medical card or GP visit card) are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including consultant services, subject to certain charges. The public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 in respect of each day during which a person is maintained, up to a maximum payment of €800 in any twelve consecutive months. Subject to certain exemptions (e.g. where the person has a referral note from a registered medical practitioner), a charge of €100 applies when outpatient services are provided at an emergency department, an accident and emergency department and a casualty department, while a charge of €75 applies when outpatient services are provided at a minor injury unit, an urgent care centre, a local injury unit, or any other facility providing similar services. Persons who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis.

“Long-stay” maintenance and accommodation contributions may be payable by those in non-acute hospitals and those who remain in acute hospitals after being discharged from acute care - up to a weekly maximum contribution of €179 where 24 hour medical or nursing care is provided or up to a maximum of €134 where part-time care is provided. Contributions are payable on a given day if the patient has already received at least 30 days of residential support services during the 12-month period ending on that day. For details (including rates tables, exempted categories and a waiver system to avoid undue hardship), see https://www.hse.ie/longstaycontributions/.

Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, an individual or family in Ireland only has to pay €100 each month for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by that person or family in that month.

People with certain long-term illnesses or disabilities may apply to join the Long Term Illness Scheme which permits the person to get, free of charge, drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness.

A person may qualify for a medical card under EU Regulations (see pages 41 to 44 of medical card and GP visit card assessment guidelines) ) if they have no link to the Irish social security system and:

• are living in Ireland and receiving benefits from an EU country or another country covered by EU Regulations;
• are living in Ireland but working in a country subject to EU Regulations and pay social insurance contributions in that country;
• are living in Ireland and are the dependent spouse or child of someone living in one of these countries.

Note - The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles a person to necessary healthcare in the public system of any EU/EEA Member State and Switzerland, if they become ill or injured while on a temporary stay in that country. However the card does not entitle a person to intentionally travel abroad with the aim of getting healthcare through the public system.

See the HSE website for how to apply for the EHIC.

Forms you may need to fill in

Forms you may need to fill in:

• Medical card and GP visit card application -Form MC1 (pdf)
• People aged 70 and over Medical Card and GP visit card application - Form MC1A (pdf)
• Apply for the GP Visit Card for persons aged 70 years and over - register online or application form (pdf)
• Apply for the GP Visit Card for children under 6 – register online or application form (pdf)
• Apply for the Drugs Payment Scheme
• Apply for the Long Term Illness Scheme
• Apply for the European Health Insurance Card (pdf)

Note that applications may require that you provide your Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). You may get information on your PPSN by contacting the Department of Social Protection – details in the ‘Who do you need to contact’ section below.

The HSE launched its new medical card online application service in 2018. This new service enables people to apply online for a medical card, upload all supporting documentation and find out their eligibility status at www.medicalcard.ie.

Know your rights

The links below set out your rights, they are not European Commission sites and do not represent the view of the Commission:

• HSE benefits and schemes to make the cost of health and medical care more affordable for all;
• Health Service Charter - What you can expect from your health service and what you can do to help;
• Citizens Information website – health section.

Commission publication and website:

• http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/unemployment-and-benefits/index_en.htm 

Who do you need to contact?

Find your nearest Local Health Office

HSE Consumer affairs contact details.

You can also call the HSE Infoline on 1850 24 1850, from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.

Send your application for a medical card or inform the HSE of a change of status to:

HSE Client Registration Unit,

P.O. Box 11745,

Dublin 11,

Ireland

D02 VW90

Telephone - LoCall: 1890 252 919 or 01 864 7100

Information on your Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number):

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a-personal-public-service-pps-number/

Here to apply for a PPS Number.