Help With Medical Costs

Medical Cards
If you have a medical card, you are entitled to free GP (family doctor) services, prescribed drugs and medicines (with some exceptions), in-patient public hospital services, out-patient services, dental, optical and aural services, medical appliances, maternity and infant care services.

Medical cards are issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The card will normally cover you and your dependent spouse and child dependants.

In order to qualify for a medical card, you have to satisfy a means test. Different income thresholds apply for people aged under 66, those aged 66-69, and those aged over 70 years.
Click here for more information.

GP Visit Cards

Certain people in Ireland who do not qualify for a medical card may apply for a GP (family doctor) Visit Card. GP Visit Cards allow individuals and families who qualify, to visit their family doctor for free. It is means tested but the income limits are higher than for a full medical card.
Click here for more information.

Tax Relief on Medical Bills
If you pay medical expenses that are not covered by the State or by private health insurance, you may claim tax relief on some of those expenses. These expenses include the costs involved in nursing home care.
Tax relief is also available in Ireland for premiums paid for health insurance and for long-term care insurance. The insurance company grants this tax relief at source.
Click here for more information.

Drugs Payment Scheme

Under the Drugs Payment Scheme an individual or family in Ireland does not have to pay more than a set amount (€100 from 1 January 2009) for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by that person or his or her family each month.
Click here for more information.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was set up to take public patients who have been waiting longest for procedures in public hospitals off waiting lists. It is funded by the Department of Health and Children.

The NTPF will arrange for patients who have been waiting longest on public hospital waiting lists to be treated in private hospitals in Ireland, private hospitals in the United Kingdom or, if necessary, private hospitals in other countries. Treatments available under the NTPF range from cardiac surgery to hip replacements to treatment for varicose veins and cataracts.

For more information please talk to your doctor.