Keep your medical card while renting a room

If you rent a room in your home under the rent a room scheme, you can get up to €14,000 of rent a year disregarded in the means test for the medical card or the GP visit card.

You must rent the room to a private renter and your rental income must not be more than €14,000.

This means that up to €14,000 income you receive from renting a room will not be considered when your income is assessed to check if you qualify for the medical card or the GP visit card.

Find out more about the means test for the medical card and the GP visit card if you are:

• Aged under 70, or
• Aged over 70