Is the Medical Card for you?

Primary Medical Cover

A Medical Card entitles you to all health services free. A GP Visit Card covers the cost of visits to the doctor for your family. The means test for these cards is based on net income i.e. after the relevant deductions with regards to tax, PRSI; of reasonable expenses on rent or mortgage; on travel to work; on childcare and of regular weekly out of pocket medical expenses. Savings are valued in the same way as for non-contributory OAP. The cards will be granted if your remaining income after these deductions does not exceed the following guideline for 2009:

                                                                                            Medical Card                                   GP Only
                                                                                 Under 66       66 and over           Under 66      66 and over

Single living alone                                                €184.00          €210.50                 €276.00         €302.00
Single living with family                                       €164.00          €173.50                 €246.00         €260.00
Married Couple                                                     €266.50          €298.00                 €400.00         €447.00

Additional Allowance for Dependent Children
                                                                                            Medical Card                                GP Only

For the first two children under 16                                   €38.00                                         €57.00
For other children under 16                                              €41.00                                         €61.50
For first two children over 16                                            €39.00                                         €58.50
For other children over 16                                                 €42.50                                         €64.00
For over 16 in full time 3rd level                                       €78.00                                         €117.00

Persons aged 70 and over will from 1st January only be entitled to a Medical Card if their gross income is less than €700 per week (single) or €1,400 per week (couple).   

Income derived from assets will be assessed in the means test as follows:

• For those ages 70 and over, the first €36,000 (each) are disregarded and only the interest/dividend that was actually earned on the balance will be counted as means.
• For those under 70 the first €20,000 each is disregarded, the next €10,000 is valued as yielding €1 per week per € 1,000, the following €10,000 is valued at yielding €2 per week per €1,000 and the balance is valued at yielding €4 per week per €1,000.

Persons on Social Welfare who have no other income will generally qualify for a medical card. An increase in Social Welfare will not cause you to lose your card.

The HSE will consider cases outside these guidelines in special circumstances, for example to cover one family member with high medical costs. Medical Card holders do not have to pay the health levy nor exam fees for children. Persons with British and EU pensions, who have no Irish Social Welfare Pension, generally qualify for the Medical Card regardless of income. Students will only qualify for a medical card in their own right if they have an independent income of at least €204.30 but under the above guidelines.

 

 

 

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