Services for medical card and GP visit card holders
- Introduction
- Free services with a medical card or GP visit card
- Medical services not covered
- Other services covered by a medical card
- More information
Introduction
With a medical card, you can get many public services for free. With a GP visit card, you can get free GP visits.
If you have a medical card or GP visit card, your doctor must treat you in the same way they treat private patients. GPs have a contract with the HSE listing the services they must provide for medical card and GP visit card holders. This means that for example, surgery times and access to home visits must be the same for all patients.
This service is paid for by the Health Service Executive (HSE) through the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS).
Free services with a medical card or GP visit card
| Medical card | GP visit card | |
|
Free GP (family doctor) services, including out-of-hours services |
✓ | ✓ |
|
Diabetes Cycle of Care |
✓ | ✓ |
|
Prescribed drugs and medicines —prescription charges apply |
✓ | x |
|
In-patient public hospital services, out-patient services and medical appliances |
✓ | x |
|
Dental checks, eye tests and ear tests |
✓ | x |
|
Some personal and social care services, for example, public health nursing, social work services and other community care services |
✓ | x |
|
Short-term counselling for mild to moderate psychological difficulties, using the Counselling in Primary Care Service |
✓ | x |
| A maternity cash grant of €10.16 on the birth of each child (apply to your Local Health Office) | ✓ | x |
|
Non-medical benefits |
||
|
Free school transport charges |
✓ | x |
|
Financial help with buying schoolbooks in certain schools |
✓ | x |
| State exam fees in publicly funded second-level schools | ✓ | x |
|
Reduced rate of USC |
✓ | x |
Are blood tests covered?
Routine blood tests may be covered by your medical card or GP visit card. You should ask your GP if your blood tests are covered. You can also check with your local primary care unit if blood tests are covered for your condition.
You can make a complaint to your local HSE Health Office if you believe that your GP may have incorrectly charged you for a routine blood test:
- To assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition, or
- Under the Chronic Disease Management programme
They will contact the GP concerned and carry out an investigation into the complaint and will refund you if you were charged incorrectly for the blood test.
Emergency and out-of-hours services for medical and GP visit card holders
If you have a medical card, your GP must provide or arrange for emergency services for you and their other medical card patients. You can read more about charges for going to the emergency department.
Your GP may have a rota system with other doctors to provide cross-cover for out-of-hours situations for medical card and GP visit card holders.
Medical services not covered
Even if you have a medical card or GP visit card, your GP does not have to provide the following services for free:
- Eye tests for a driving licence
- Reports for life assurance
- Medical certificates for absence from work
If you need a medical report to apply for a social welfare payment, the Department of Social Protection may cover the fee.
Other services covered by a medical card
If you are a medical card holder, you pay a reduced rate of the Universal Social Charge on your income, if it is over the exemption limit.
A reduced rate of Universal Social Charge (USC) for medical card holders has been extended until 31 December 2025. Reduced rates of USC apply to people who have a full medical card and an income of €60,000 or less a year.
Education and school services
If you have a medical card, you may also be exempt from paying school transport charges and state exam fees in publicly funded second-level schools. You may also get financial help with buying school books in certain schools.
More information
You can read more information about medical cards and GP visit cards. Check if you are eligible for a medical card or GP visit card with the means tests for people aged under 70 and the means test for people aged over 70.
You can also read about the GP visit card for children aged under 8 and prescription charges for medical card holders.
You can find more information on the medical card and GP visit card on the HSE website. You can find further detail in the HSE Assessment Guidelines for medical cards and GP visit cards.