What does a medical card offer?

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BrianMc

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A friend was discussing the fact that they were on carers allowance but only eligible for a GP visit card and not a full medical card. They were fairly aggrieved about the matter.

As a self employed person, I do not have private health insurance (on the to do list!) and do not have a GP card nor a medical card. I pay €60 for GP visits as they arise (thankfully rarely) and pay for any prescriptions in the chemist, which are usually inexpensive.

My understanding is that healthcare, for the most part, is free in Ireland, so I am unsure what extra benefits the medical card provides or what costs a person like me would have to cover. Can someone enlighten me please?
 
A medical card holder does not pay for GP visits, prescription medication or A&E charges.

More information here
www2.hse.ie

Medical cards

Access medical services, prescription medicines and hospital care for free with a medical card. Learn about types of cards, and how to apply and manage your card.
www2.hse.ie www2.hse.ie
 
gipimann said:
A medical card holder does not pay for GP visits, prescription medication or A&E charges.

More information here
www2.hse.ie

Medical cards

Access medical services, prescription medicines and hospital care for free with a medical card. Learn about types of cards, and how to apply and manage your card.
www2.hse.ie www2.hse.ie
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Reduced USC rate
 
Thank you. So from what I can see the only additional expense to what I listed is a possible €100 A&E charge.

I was under the impression there were more benefits available.
 
The medical card funds aids and appliances. Some of these can be very costly. Some people with disabilities need very expensive custom wheelchairs for example.
 
BrianMc said:
Thank you. So from what I can see the only additional expense to what I listed is a possible €100 A&E charge.

I was under the impression there were more benefits available.
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Not having to pay the GP is a substantial benefit if you need to go regularly! You have been lucky in not needing to, paying out 60 euro or so regularly is pretty draining for a lot of people with or without families plus the cost of prescriptions.
 
Monbretia said:
Not having to pay the GP is a substantial benefit if you need to go regularly! You have been lucky in not needing to, paying out 60 euro or so regularly is pretty draining for a lot of people with or without families plus the cost of prescriptions.
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Prescriptions are capped at 80 euro per month per family with drug payments card. No means test for it
 
I think a bed in a nursing home is covered. May be limited to certain homes im not sure.
There's alsò some bursaries that can be awarded to third level students
 
BrianMc said:
Thank you. So from what I can see the only additional expense to what I listed is a possible €100 A&E charge.

I was under the impression there were more benefits available.
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A good point.

I often think that some people think that without a med card or health ins, you will face huge medical bills.

In reality, all hosp care is financed by taxes (except the 100 euro ED fee).

So having a med card means you don't have to pay for three healthcare costs:

(1) GP visits
(2) prescriptions - although the most anybody pays is 80 pm
(3) 100 ED fee

However, it should be pointed out that the GMS medical card is also a "gateway" to other benefits, e.g. reduced fees for school bus, State exam fees, etc.
 
There was also an inpatient charge of 80 euro per night (max 10 nights per year) for non medical card patients. This was abolished in April 2023.

The Drug Payment Scheme only covers medicines on the approved list - if prescribed medication isn't on the list, it must be paid for in addition to the 80 euro - last year, I was paying 104 euro per month for several months because one of my meds wasn't covered under the scheme.
 
gipimann said:
There was also an inpatient charge of 80 euro per night (max 10 nights per year) for non medical card patients. This was abolished in April 2023.

The Drug Payment Scheme only covers medicines on the approved list - if prescribed medication isn't on the list, it must be paid for in addition to the 80 euro - last year, I was paying 104 euro per month for several months because one of my meds wasn't covered under the scheme.
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Yes I came across that issue previously. In the early days if the scheme things like travel vacs were covered when I think the limit may have been as low as €42. Needless to say the tax payer was royally screwed. I don't however agree with someone having to pay extra where necessary medication is covered by the scheme.
 
POC said:
No a bed in a Nursing Home isn't covered.
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I know my mam spent few weeks in a nursing home after she had a fall number of years back and i believe there were no fees and it was covered. She didnt own a house or have any savings.
 
I'd like to make people aware of the Community Intervention Teams, CITs, in their area available to medical card holders.

What these teams of nurses, physios, occupational therapists and home helps offer is a range of services delivered in the medical card holder's home.

Every six months I have to have a high-tech cancer medicine injected. Before discovering the local CIT, I'd take my prescription to the local pharmacy to be filled. It might not necessarily be in stock because of the nature of the medicine, so I might have to wait a day or two for it to be delivered. I'd then take my medicine to the GP, having first made an appointment, and join the queue to be treated.

Since registering with the CIT, I now have all this done in my home by a CIT nurse, who calls by appointment. I am also fitted with a medical device which necessitated three-monthly visits to the GP or local hospital to be changed. The CIT team nurse-specialist now does this in my home.

I have been guilty of whinging about the "big HSE" in the past, but here's a collection of local dedicated teams delivering tailored services in the home for patients. My illness limits my mobility to a degree, so having services delivered at home is an absolute gift.
 
dubdub123 said:
I know my mam spent few weeks in a nursing home after she had a fall number of years back and i believe there were no fees and it was covered. She didnt own a house or have any savings.
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Maybe that was some type of convalescence arrangement.
One of my parents, with a medical card, availed of Fair Deal in a Nursing Home.It still cost a fortune, it definitely was not fully covered.
 
Did someone mention reduced USC? I’ve only recently gotten a medical card, I am working. Would I have to notify revenue to get the reduced USC????
 
blanketyblank said:
Did someone mention reduced USC? I’ve only recently gotten a medical card, I am working. Would I have to notify revenue to get the reduced USC????
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Reduced rates of USC​

Reduced rates of USC will apply if your income is €60,000 or less and:

  • you are aged 70 or older
  • or
  • hold a full Medical Card (not a GP visit card).
If you hold a medical card and your income is €60,000 or less, you need to contact Revenue to receive the reduced rate.

The reduced rates will apply for the whole year when you:

  • reach the age of 70 and your income is €60,000 or less
  • or
  • hold a full medical card at any time during the year.
 
mathepac said:
I'd like to make people aware of the Community Intervention Teams, CITs, in their area available to medical card holders.

What these teams of nurses, physios, occupational therapists and home helps offer is a range of services delivered in the medical card holder's home.

Every six months I have to have a high-tech cancer medicine injected. Before discovering the local CIT, I'd take my prescription to the local pharmacy to be filled. It might not necessarily be in stock because of the nature of the medicine, so I might have to wait a day or two for it to be delivered. I'd then take my medicine to the GP, having first made an appointment, and join the queue to be treated.

Since registering with the CIT, I now have all this done in my home by a CIT nurse, who calls by appointment. I am also fitted with a medical device which necessitated three-monthly visits to the GP or local hospital to be changed. The CIT team nurse-specialist now does this in my home.

I have been guilty of whinging about the "big HSE" in the past, but here's a collection of local dedicated teams delivering tailored services in the home for patients. My illness limits my mobility to a degree, so having services delivered at home is an absolute gift.
Click to expand...
Getting access to services remains a huge issue for a lot of people unfortunately but as you say some great work happening with multi disciplinary teams.
 
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