RX Medical Card [1 year validation]

Introduction

If you have a medical card issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE), you can receive certain health services free of charge. Normally, your dependent spouse or partner and your children are also covered for the same range of health services.

To qualify for a medical card, your weekly income must be below a certain figure for your family size. Cash income, savings, investments and property (except for your own home) are taken into account in the means test.

GP visit cards: If you do not qualify for a medical card on income grounds, you may qualify for a GP visit card.

What health services are normally covered?

If you have a medical card, you are entitled to:

• Free GP (family doctor) services, including out-of-hours services
• Prescribed drugs and medicines — some prescription charges apply
• In-patient public hospital services, out-patient services and medical appliances
• Dental, optical and aural services
• Maternity and infant care services
• Some personal and social care services, for example, public health nursing, social work services and other community care services
• Short-term counselling for mild to moderate psychological difficulties, using the Counselling in Primary Care Service
• A maternity cash grant of $10.16 on the birth of each child (apply to your Local Health Office)

Other benefits

Medical card holders pay the Universal Social Charge on their income if it is over the exemption limit, but there is a reduced rate. Medical card holders may also be exempt from paying school transport charges and State exam fees in publicly-funded second-level schools. There may also be financial help with buying school books in certain schools.