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GP visit cards

What is a gp visit card, who can get a gp visit card, income limits for people aged under 70, how to apply for a gp visit card, more information on gp visit cards.

A GP visit card is a card that gives you free visits to a participating family doctor (GP). If you are not eligible for a medical card , you may be eligible for a GP visit card.

What does a GP visit card cover?

Your GP visit card covers the cost of visits to your GP and visits to GP out-of-hours services . Blood tests to diagnose or monitor a condition are covered.

The GP visit card does not cover hospital charges . Prescribed drugs are not free but may be covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme .

You can apply for a GP visit card online.

You must be ordinarily resident in Ireland to apply for a GP visit card. This means that you are living in Ireland and intend to live here for at least one year.

You will qualify for a GP visit card with no means test if you are :

  • Aged under 8 (see GP visit cards for children )

Aged over 70

  • Getting Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance , at full or half-rate

If you are aged under 70, your income is assessed by the HSE to see whether you qualify for a GP visit card. See below for information about the HSE basic rates of income.

Your income is assessed by the HSE using the means test for people aged under 70 . However, the basic rates of income for the GP visit card are higher than the limits for the medical card.

Your weekly net income is compared to the HSE's weekly basic rate of income . This is your income after tax, PRSI and universal social charge (USC) have been deducted. There are extra allowances for children.

If your income is above the weekly basic rate you may still qualify for a GP visit card after you include allowable expenses such as childcare and rent (see ‘Allowable expenses’ below).

The weekly basic rates of income increased on 11 September 2023 and again on 13 November 2023. If you were not eligible in the past, you may be eligible now.

Allowable expenses

Some living expenses are allowable. This means they increase your weekly basic rate of income.

Allowable expenses include:

  • Childcare costs
  • Rent (not including any amounts paid by Housing Assistance Payment or Rent Supplement )
  • Reasonable mortgage payments on your family home and other land or property.
  • Mortgage protection insurance and associated life assurance.
  • Home insurance.
  • Maintenance payments you make.
  • Nursing home, private nursing or home care costs for you or your spouse.
  • The cost of public transport.
  • Driving expenses if a car is required, at a rate of 30 cent per mile/18 cent per km. If a couple needs two cars to travel to work, a double allowance applies. The cost of parking can be taken into account.
  • Reasonable contributions towards carpooling costs.

See examples of how you or your family’s income is calculated when you apply for a GP visit card.

Read the HSE National Assessment Guidelines for medical card and GP visit card (pdf) . You can also find a list of the documents you need to support your application.

Aged over 70 with dependants

If you are aged over 70, you are eligible for a GP visit card regardless of your income.

If you are over 70 and you have dependants who are aged under 70, for example, a spouse or partner your dependants may qualify for a GP visit card if your combined gross income is over €1050, but not greater than €1,400 a week.

If either of you are aged over 70, you will both qualify for a full medical card if your combined gross income is €1050 or less per week.

Finances over the qualifying financial threshold

When you apply for a GP visit card, the HSE will first assess your application for a medical card . If you don't qualify for a medical card, you will then be assessed for a GP visit card.

If your finances are over the qualifying financial threshold for a medical card or GP visit card, you may still qualify for a discretionary medical card if your medical expenses would cause you financial hardship without one.

If you want to apply for a discretionary medical card , you should also include information about your family’s medical expenses in your application.

Aged under 70

If you are under 70, you use the same application process to apply for a GP visit card as for a medical card . So, as part of the application process for the GP visit card, your entitlement to a medical card is automatically assessed.

You can apply for a medical card or GP visit card online on medicalcard.ie

You can also download an application form for the GP visit card and medical card (pdf) and email it to [email protected] or post it to:

National Medical Card Unit,

PO Box 11745,

If you are aged 70 or over, you can register for your GP visit card online .

You can also download the registration form for people aged 70 and over (pdf) and email it to [email protected] or post it to:

GP Visit Card Over 70s,

PO Box 12629,

You can also call 0818 22 44 78 to ask for a paper registration form.

Application for a spouse or partner

If you are over 70, with a dependant spouse or partner who is under 70, and you think your finances may be under the qualifying financial threshold, you can apply for GP visit cards for both of you. To do this, you use the standard medical card/GP visit card application form (pdf) and include details of your income and allowable expenses. (For the HSE weekly basic income rates, see ‘Dependants of people aged over 70’ above).

Applying if you are a carer

If you get Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance, at full or half-rate, you are eligible for a GP visit card. You can register for the GP visit card for carers by email or post .

Appealing your GP visit card application

If your application for a GP visit card is refused, you will receive a letter from the HSE to let you know. The letter will also set out the reasons why your application has been refused.

If you are not satisfied with the decision, you may have it reviewed. Your circumstances may have changed, or you may have left out some relevant information from the original application.

If you are not satisfied with the review, you can make an appeal to the Appeals Office of your HSE Area . You can also find the contact details for the Appeals Office in the letter of refusal from the HSE.

The Appeals Office will conduct a reassessment of your application. This will be conducted by HSE staff who were not involved in deciding on your original application.

Your entitlement to a GP visit card is reviewed periodically by the HSE. This is because your circumstances may change. If you don’t return your review form, your GP visit card may not be re-issued.

If you return your review form by the given date but the review process continues past the expiry date of your card, the HSE may extend your card’s validity so that you can continue to use it while the review is taking place. The extension is on a month-by-month basis, so it is advisable to contact the HSE Client Registration Unit (contact details below) to confirm that your card has been extended and continues to be valid.

Check the status of your application for a GP visit card on the HSE website . You will need the reference number from your application.

You can check if your GP visit card is still valid on the HSE website.

Contact Lo-call 0818 22 44 78 or your Local Health Office for more information on GP visit cards. You can also contact the Client Registration Unit.

Client Registration Unit

4th Floor HSE PCRS Finglas Dublin 11

Related documents

  • Services for medical card and GP visit card holders Family doctors (GPs) provide certain services to medical card and GP visit card holders free of charge. 3252.0986
  • GP visit cards for children under 8 Children under 8 are entitled to free visits to participating GPs. Find out how to register for the GP visit card for children. 2998.427
  • Under 70s means test for medical card and GP visit card How your income is assessed for the medical card and GP visit card if you are under 70 years of age. 2769.95

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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gp visit card under 46000

Free GP visit cards: How to apply as six and seven year olds become eligible

The plans to grant six and seven year olds free GP visit cards, which were laid out in Budget 2023, were targeted for the beginning of April and will grant wider access to free healthcare

  • 11:15, 3 APR 2023

Child at the doctor's (Stock Image)

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Many children aged six and seven can now go to the GP free of charge following the expansion of visitor cards.

The changes were deadlined for the beginning of April and will benefit thousands of eligible children. The budget plans also allow for households with a median income of less than €46,000 to access free GP healthcare .

Kids under the age of six are already entitled to free GP appointments, as well as home visits and out of hours urgent care. You can ensure your child won't miss out on the scheme by following several steps.

READ MORE : Cost of living: Barnardos say parents can't see 'way out' amid current crisis

If a child is already in receipt of a medical card, they won't need to apply for the new scheme. Here are some details about how to get a card.

How can I apply for the free card?

Parents will need their child's PPS number in order to get access to a card, as well as their choice of participating GPs. It's worth noting that not all GPs will take part in the scheme- a list of clinics who accept free visit cards is available here .

This list will also tell you whether a participating GP accepts online registrations. If they do, applications can be made online via the HSE's website .

Previously, paper applications for children aged under six could be made by downloading a form from an online link. Parents or other applicants need their GP's signature on the form before sending it to GP Visit Card – Under 6s, PO Box 12629, Dublin 11. The same format may apply as access for six and seven year olds gets underway.

What groups are eligible for a free GP visit card ?

There are other cohorts besides children that are entitled to a free GP visit card. Anyone aged over 70 can participate in the scheme, without an income test applying.

For those aged under 70, income assessment determines a person's eligibility. The weekly income limits for those considering a free GP visit card are listed below.

If someone is aged over 70 with dependants below the age threshold, their dependants may also qualify for the scheme. This is dependant on a family's income levels.

People on the Carer's Allowance, either at full or half rate, are entitled to a free GP visit card. Further information on getting access to a free card is available online .

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Here is everything you need to know about free GP care expansion 

Here is everything you need to know about free GP care expansion 

Children aged six and seven will be provided with a GP Visit Card. It is expected that this will apply to 78,000 children.

On Tuesday, the Government announced the latest expansion in free GP care.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe announced that GP Visit Cards would be made available to more than 500,000 people by this autumn.

Mr Donnelly said the move was the "last expansion" of the scheme.

Here is everything you need to know about the expansion.

Who will be eligible?

Children aged six and seven will be provided with a GP Visit Card. It is expected this will apply to 78,000 children.

The scheme will also include people who are earning up to the median income of €46,000. This will apply to up to 430,000 people.

Altogether, about half a million people will be provided with GP Visit Cards over the coming months.

What are the new income thresholds?

Those applying for a visit card under the new weekly income thresholds will be divided into two phases to ease the burden on the system and GPs.

The first phase will be those earning in the lower end of the bracket and phase two will be for the remainder of those eligible.

Single person living alone:  Earning €361 weekly (first phase); earning €418 weekly (second phase); 

Single person living with family:  Earning €322 weekly (first phase), earning €373 weekly (second phase); 

Couple without dependents:  Earning €524 weekly (first phase), earning €607 weekly (second phase); 

Couple with dependents: As above with an allowed amount per dependent added to the threshold; 

Lone parent:  Earning €524 weekly (first phase), earning €607 weekly (second phase); 

Over 66: Those over 66 will operate under the same threshold as those under 66 following the implementation of the changes as they are lower than the current thresholds for those over 66.

Over 70: No change. 

When will it begin?

As it is the largest expansion of the scheme to date, it has been agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) that it will be rolled out in three stages.

First, applications will open for children aged six and seven. This will commence on August 11.

Applications for those who earn the median household income or less will be done in two phases, beginning on September 11 and November 13.

How do I apply for myself/my child?

From August 11, parents of children aged six and seven will be able to apply via the HSE online portal, the same way as the current under-six applicants do . In order to apply, you must provide the PPS number of the child, the PPS number of the child's parent or guardian and your email address.

A separate, dedicated portal will be opened for those applying on the basis of income.

These applicants will need to make a declaration of their income and outgoings.

The same expenses as are currently set against income in Medical or GP Visit Card applications will continue to apply.

Allowable expenses include:

  • Childcare costs; 
  • Rent (not including amounts paid by Rent Supplement or Hap); 
  • Reasonable mortgage payments; 
  • Mortgage protection insurance and associated life assurance; 
  • Home insurance; 
  • Maintenance payments; 
  • Nursing home, private nursing or home care costs for applicant or their spouse; 
  • Costs of travelling to work (public transport, driving expenses if a car is required, contributions towards carpooling costs). 

What can I do if my income is over the limit?

If the assessment of your application finds your income is over the limit, you may still qualify for a discretionary card if your medical expenses would cause you financial hardship without one.

How do I know if my GP accepts GP visit cards?

You can visit the HSE website to see a list of GPs who provide GP Visit Card services.

If your GP of choice is not on the list, they might not currently be accepting additional patients.

If you apply online, the HSE will contact your preferred GP and ask them to accept you on their list.

If your application is refused, you will receive a letter with the reasons why.

If you are not satisfied, you may have it reviewed. Your circumstances may have changed or you may have left out some relevant information from the original application.

If you are not satisfied with the review you can make an appeal to the appeals Office of your HSE area.

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Cost of living: Thousands more people will be eligible to visit the GP for free next month

Visiting the doctor can be very expensive, especially if we need to go often - however thousands more people are set to be eligible for free GP visits very soon

  • 15:50, 3 MAR 2023

gp visit card under 46000

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Many people are set to save from next month as the government have extended the GP visit card.

Every so often, we all need to go to the GP, but many of us put it off because it can be so expensive.

Luckily, hundreds of thousands of people will have one less cost to worry about from April.

Read more: Cost of Living: Taoiseach says fourth €200 energy credit instalment a 'possibility' but wants to see energy prices fall

More than 430,000 people will be eligible to receive a GP visit card in a significant development in Budget 2023, which is set to come into effect in April.

This is 340,000 additional people.

Here's everything you need to know about the expanded eligibility and how to apply.

What is a GP visit card?

If you are not eligible for a medical card you may be eligible for a GP visit card. A GP visit card allows you to visit a participating family doctor (GP) for free.

The GP visit card does not cover hospital charges. Prescribed drugs are not free but may be covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme. The GP visit card does cover visits to GP out of hours services. Blood tests to diagnose or monitor a condition are covered.

Who can get one?

Currently, children under six, people over 70 and those who get Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance at half or full rate qualify. Under Budget 2023, the GP visit card scheme will be expanded to cover all children aged six and seven, as well as people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less. The figure is net household income , after tax.

How to apply for a GP visit card

If you are aged under 70, you use the same application process to apply for a GP visit card as for a medical card. As part of the application process for the GP visit card, your entitlement for a medical card will also be assessed.

You can apply online for a medical card or GP visit card on medicalcard.ie .

For the GP visit card for people aged 70 and over, you can register for the card online on gpvisitcard.ie , you can download the registration form for people aged 70 and over or you can call 0818 22 44 78 to request a registration form.

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Plans to reduce consultant waiting list 65,000 behind target, says Donnelly

Households earning less than €46,000 after tax will qualify for free gp care from next april.

gp visit card under 46000

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said priority would be given to overtime and increases in capacity so that the waiting list target can be met. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

Government plans to reduce the number of patients waiting for an appointment with a consultant are 65,000 behind the target for this year, according to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

Speaking at a post-budget briefing on Wednesday, he said priority would be given to overtime and increases in capacity so that the waiting list target can be met.

Patients earning less than the median income of €46,000 will be eligible for a free GP visit card under the headline budgetary proposal in health, he said.

This threshold is net household income and is adjusted according to family size. The Government plans to make 430,000 people eligible for free GP care from next April, though this is subject to agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation.

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[  Doctors concerned over decision to extend free GP care to additional 430,000 people  ]

Asked about criticism by doctors of the plan, the Minister said: “Sometimes if you wait for the perfect and for everyone to be satisfied, the right thing takes too long to happen.”

While he understood the nervousness of GPs about the proposal, “ultimately, Government has to decide whether it’s time to do what needs to be done”.

More patients attending GP surgeries should be seen by practice nurses, he suggested, as some did not need to see a doctor.

Ireland needs about 2,000 additional consultants, Mr Donnelly told reporters. He said he would like to see a new public-only consultant contract agreed with doctors’ representatives “in the coming weeks”. A lot of issues have been ironed out in the long-running negotiations, he added, but some issues remain to be resolved.

The inpatient waiting list is trending downwards, he said, though there has been a slight increase this month. The health service is 2,800 patients behind the target of reducing the number by 17 per cent this year.

[  HSE expects to spend €2bn on Covid-19 this year — twice estimated sum for 2022  ]

The reduction of scoliosis waiting lists was going “very well” and there have been “fantastic results” in reducing the number of long-waiting gynaecology patients in Dublin and Letterkenny, he said.

Mr Donnelly said €10 million is being provided to fund IVF services for the first time from September 2023. The full-year cost is €30 million. Decisions on how it will work and the qualifying criteria have yet to be made.

The service will be phased in over a number of years, so initially women will be funded to access private IVF care.

Budget 2023 also contained proposals to extend free contraception to women aged 16-30. Mr Donnelly said he was waiting on legal advice on the proposal to provide contraception to 16 year olds.

The age of sexual consent is 17, but the Minister said contraception should be provided to 16 year olds on the basis that the medical age of consent is 16 and the State is already providing terminations to 16 year olds.

Free oral healthcare is to be introduced for children aged up to 7 years, under a €5 million initiative in the budget.

There is also provision for €1 million to cover the cost of the morning sickness drug Cariban.

Stroke, neurorehabilitation, obesity and diabetes services will also benefit from specific measures funded in the budget.

Paul Cullen

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Paul Cullen is a former heath editor of The Irish Times.

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Plans to reduce consultant waiting lists off by 65,000, says Donnelly

Plans To Reduce Consultant Waiting Lists Off By 65,000, Says Donnelly

The Minister for Health says plans to reduce the number of patients waiting for an appointment with a consultant are 65,000 behind the target for this year.

As the Irish Times reports, speaking at a post-budget briefing on Wednesday, Stephen Donnelly said priority would be given to overtime and increases in capacity so that the waiting list target can be met.

Patients earning less than the median income of €46,000 will be eligible for a free GP visit card under the headline budgetary proposal in health, he said.

This threshold is net household income and is adjusted according to family size.

The Government plans to make 430,000 people eligible for free GP care from next April, though this is subject to agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation.

Asked about criticism by doctors of the plan, the Minister said: “Sometimes if you wait for the perfect and for everyone to be satisfied, the right thing takes too long to happen.”

While he understood the nervousness of GPs about the proposal, “ultimately, Government has to decide whether it’s time to do what needs to be done”.

More patients attending GP surgeries should be seen by practice nurses, he suggested, as some did not need to see a doctor.

Ireland needs about 2,000 additional consultants, Mr Donnelly told reporters. He said he would like to see a new public-only consultant contract agreed with doctors’ representatives “in the coming weeks”.

A lot of issues have been ironed out in the long-running negotiations, he added, but some issues remain to be resolved.

The inpatient waiting list is trending downwards, he said, though there has been a slight increase this month. The health service is 2,800 patients behind the target of reducing the number by 17 per cent this year.

  • Stephen Donnelly ,
  • Minister for Health ,
  • consultants ,
  • waiting lists

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Health service too 'overloaded' to cope with free GP visits

James Wilson

20.35 11 Aug 2023

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Health service too 'overloaded...

The health service will not be able to cope with the expansion of free GP visits, a doctor has predicted. 

From today, all children under the age of eight will be able to visit the GP free of charge and soon all those who earn under €46,000 will be able to do likewise as well.

The change was announced in last year’s budget and has been described by the Department of Health as “the largest expansion in access to GP care without charges in the history of the State.”

Speaking to The Hard Shoulder , Monaghan-based GP Illona Duffy said she feels the Department has underestimated the magnitude of the change they are ushering in.

“[Officials] are suggesting there’ll be an extra 400,000 medical cards added into the system,” she said.

“That’s probably an underestimation because they’re basing that on the fact that they think that not everybody will apply for it - which is exactly what they thought about the u-6s and they were proven wrong there.

“So, we’re estimating that there’ll be at least half a million new GP Visit cards into the system.”

Dr Duffy described the health service as “already overloaded and well beyond capacity” and without a sufficient number of GPs to cope with the change.

“We saw the impact of the under six’s cards,” she said.

“Before they were introduced there was concern raised that GP practices wouldn’t be able to cope with the extra demand… Once the service becomes free, people will understandably use that service more frequently.”

A doctor examines a young boy in his office

People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy described Ireland as an “extreme outlier” within the EU when it comes to charging citizens for GP visits and said it would benefit the health service in the long run.

“The average family spends nearly €1,000 a year on medical expenses… It’s an enormous cost for an average family,” he said.

“For many people, as a consequence of rationing access to GP care according to wealth, many people don’t go to the doctor when they really should be going to the doctor.

“There was a study done a number of years ago, where one in five people in the South of Ireland said they had a health problem in the previous year and didn’t go to a doctor because of money.

“Whereas that figure was only 2% in the North - because access to GP care is free.”

Deputy Murphy think would end up saving the health service money in the long-term because “it’s much better to catch things early by people having [early access] to primary care.”

Free GP Visit Cards will become available for those earning under under €46,000 in the autumn.

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Thousands of people in Cork to benefit from free GP visits

Over 340,000 more people are now eligible for free GP visits - you can find out if you qualify here

  • 11:13, 11 APR 2023
  • Updated 15:25, 11 APR 2023

Hundreds of thousands of people nationwide are newly eligible

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Thousands of Leesiders will be able to take advantage of free GP visits from this month onwards, under new provisions announced as part of Budget 2023.

Changes to the GP visit card scheme have made more than 340,000 newly eligible as of this April. While nearly half a million people now qualify nationwide, many aren't aware that they can take advantage of the scheme.

People can apply for a GP visit card which means they no longer have to pay to see their local doctor, although they will still be required to pay for medicines and other services. It's important to note that these cards do not cover any hospital charges.

You can apply for a GP visit card if your household draws a net income of €46,000 or less, if you're over the age of 70 or if you have a child under the age of 7 - as well as other qualifying criteria outlined below.

If you're aged under 70 you can use the same application process to apply for a GP visit card as you would for a medical card. You will be assessed for medical card eligibility first and if you don't qualify you will then be considered for a GP visit card.

All of the information on eligibility and how to apply is outlined below.

What is a GP visit card?

If you are not eligible for a medical card you may be eligible for a GP visit card. A GP visit card allows you to visit a participating family doctor (GP) for free.

The GP visit card does not cover hospital charges. Prescribed drugs are not free but may be covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme. Blood tests to diagnose or monitor a condition are covered.

How can I apply for a GP visit card?

If you are aged under 70, you use the same application process to apply for a GP visit card as for a medical card. As part of the application process for the GP visit card, your entitlement to a medical card will also be assessed.

You can apply online for a medical card or GP visit card on medicalcard.ie .

For the GP visit card for people aged 70 and over, you can register for the card online on gpvisitcard.ie , you can download the registration form for people aged 70 and over or you can call 0818 22 44 78 to request a registration form.

Who is eligible?

Children under six, people over 70 and those who get Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance at half or full rate qualify. With these new developments from Budget 2023, the GP visit card scheme will be expanded to cover all children aged six and seven, as well as people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less. The figure is net household income, after tax.

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Under 8s GP visit card

All children under 8 years of age living in Ireland can get a GP visit card.

The under 8s GP visit card covers:

  • free GP visits
  • assessments at age 2 and 5
  • out-of-hours urgent GP care
  • care for children with asthma

Medication costs and hospital charges are not covered.

Children who have an under 6s card

You do not need to register for a new GP visit card if your child:

  • is under 6 and has a GP visit card
  • was under 6 on 1 July 2023

Their old card will automatically be extended. They will have free GP care until they are 8.

Children who turned 6 before 1 July

You need to register for a new under 8s GP visit card if your child:

  • turned 6 before 1 July 2023

Their new card will cover free GP care until they are 8.

Use our online eligibility status check to see if your card is still valid.

Register online

To register your child you need to provide your:

  • child's PPS number
  • GP's name

If you don't have your child's PPS number, phone the Department of Social Protection on 0818 927 999 or email [email protected] . If your baby is under 4 months, you can still register. We'll ask you for their PPS at a later date.

Your child must currently live in Ireland and intend to live here for at least 1 year.

If your child has a medical card, you do not need to register. Your child already has access to free GP services.

Email and postal applications

To apply for an under 8s GP visit card by email or post, download and fill in the Under 8s GP Visit Card application form (PDF, 244KB, 4 pages) .

Cárta Cuairte Doctúra - Faoi 8 Foirm Clárúcháin (Irish, PDF, 1.85MB, 4 pages)

You can also phone 0818 22 44 78 to order an application form in the post.

Where to send the form

[email protected]

National Medical Card Unit - under 8s GP visit cards, PO Box 12629, Dublin 11

Check if your GP is accepting registrations

Your GP may not be on the list of GPs providing services for Under 8s GP visit cards. They may not be currently accepting patients.

If your GP is not taking part in this scheme, or can't take any more patients, you must pick another GP.

Electronic GP registrations

If your GP is accepting registrations electronically, we will send your child’s details to them after you register.

If your GP is not accepting registrations electronically, you will receive an email with a copy of your child’s registration details attached.

Print this email attachment, bring it to your GP to sign and then post it to:

The National Medical Card Unit, PO Box 11745 Dublin 11 D11 XKF3

After you apply

Once you complete the registration process, your GP will get the details and your child will get a card within a few days.

If you don't get a card or letter within 2 weeks, contact the GP visit card service .

Lost child's GP visit card

Contact us to replace a lost or stolen medical card or GP visit card.

Lost or stolen GP visit cards

Change of address

To contact us about a change of address phone 0818 22 44 78 or 01 864 7100 or email [email protected].

You will need to give us:

  • the name and PPS number for every child that has a GP visit card
  • a copy of a utility bill dated within the last 3 months

Change your GP

Download the GP Visit Card or Medical Card change of GP form (PDF, 309KB, 2 pages) .

Cárta Leighis Foirm Athrú Dochtúraedical (Irish, PDF, 191KB, 2 pages)

Complete the form and get your GP to sign it.

Email the form to [email protected] or post it to:

National Medical Card Unit, PO Box 11745, Dublin 11

Read advice on other changes of details and who to contact

Page last reviewed: 11 August 2023

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COMMENTS

  1. GP visit cards

    Your GP visit card covers the cost of visits to your GP and visits to GP out-of-hours services. Blood tests to diagnose or monitor a condition are covered. The GP visit card does not cover hospital charges. Prescribed drugs are not free but may be covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme. You can apply for a GP visit card online.

  2. Free GP card for those earning €46,000 or less

    People who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less will be eligible for a free GP card under a new Budget measure. The figure is net household income, after tax. Over 430,000 free GP ...

  3. The people that qualify for free GP visit card after Budget 2023

    Under Budget 2023, the GP visits card scheme will be expanded to cover all children aged six and seven, as well as people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less. The figure is ...

  4. Social welfare Ireland: How to apply for GP visit card as over 200,000

    People earn under €46,000 will be able to avail of the free GP Visit Card service. From today, 11 September 2023, the amount someone can earn and still be eligible for a means tested GP visit ...

  5. Over 200,000 people eligible for free GP visits from today

    All those who earn under €46,000 will be able to avail of the service. This expansion will increase the qualifying financial threshold for a means-tested GP visit card in two phases;

  6. How to apply for GP visit card as thousands are eligible for free care

    The scheme is being operated on a means-test basis, which will take a person's or family's circumstances, income, and expenses into account, and people earning under €46,000 will be able to avail of the free GP Visit Card service. All those who earn under €46,000 will be able to avail of the service, and the weekly income threshold is ...

  7. Free GP visit cards: How to apply as six and seven year olds become

    The budget plans also allow for households with a median income of less than €46,000 to access free GP ... GP's signature on the form before sending it to GP Visit Card - Under 6s, PO Box ...

  8. Doctors critical of extension of free GP care announced in budget

    More than half the population will have a medical card or GP visit card when eligibility is extended to those under the median income of €46,000 after tax. The Department of Health says about ...

  9. GP visit cards

    Under 8s GP visit card. If you have a child under 8, you can register for an under 8s GP visit card. Read more and register online for an under 8s GP visit card. Carers GP visit card. If you get Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, at full or half rate, you can visit your GP for free. Read more and register online for the carers GP visit card.

  10. 430,000 to become eligible for GP visit cards in coming months as

    Thu Aug 31 2023 - 21:39. Around 430,000 people will become eligible to apply for GP visit cards in the coming months as the scheme is expanded to anyone earning up to the median income. Minister ...

  11. Here is everything you need to know about free GP care expansion

    GP Visit Cards will be made available to more than 500,000 people by this autumn ... The scheme will also include people who are earning up to the median income of €46,000. This will apply to up ...

  12. Cost of living: Thousands more people will be eligible to visit the GP

    Under Budget 2023, the GP visit card scheme will be expanded to cover all children aged six and seven, as well as people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less. The figure is net household income , after tax.

  13. Thousands now eligible for a free GP visit card in Ireland

    The scheme is being operated on a means-test basis, which will take a person's or family's circumstances, income, and expenses into account, and people earning under €46,000 will be able to avail of the free GP Visit Card service. All those who earn under €46,000 will be able to avail of the service, and the weekly income threshold is ...

  14. GP visit card

    Apply for a general GP visit card if you are age 8 to 69. Skip to main content. Menu Toggle search. Search the website. ... These basic rates do not apply to the GP visit card for over 70s, carers or under 8s. Additional rates for dependants ... €36,001 to €46,000 - we add €1 to your weekly income for every €1,000;

  15. How much you can earn and still qualify for a medical card

    The 3 amounts are added together to give you a qualifying financial threshold. This figure is the maximum amount you can earn as your net weekly income in order to qualify for a medical card. Qualifying financial threshold. Basic rate amount + amount for dependants + allowable expenses = amount you can earn a week and qualify for a card.

  16. Plans to reduce consultant waiting list 65,000 behind target, says

    Patients earning less than the median income of €46,000 will be eligible for a free GP visit card under the headline budgetary proposal in health, he said. This threshold is net household income ...

  17. Extension of free GP visits 'will lead to very significant ...

    The widening of the criteria of free GP visit cards will "lead to very significant problems", a GP has predicted. In Budget 2023, the Government announced that people who earn €46,000 or ...

  18. 430,000 people to become eligible for GP visit card

    More than 430,000 people will be eligible to receive a GP visit card in a significant development tonight as the Government finalised Budget 2023. The move will mean that, for the first time, more ...

  19. PDF Medical Card and GP Visit Card Application Form

    Anyone applying for either a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card - you will be assessed for both. How do I apply for a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card? Step 1. Complete this form. Read this page and the next page for help. Step 2. Include all the documents we ask for in Part 3 and Part 4. Please send photocopies only. Step 3.

  20. Plans to reduce consultant waiting lists off by 65,000, says Donnelly

    Patients earning less than the median income of €46,000 will be eligible for a free GP visit card under the headline budgetary proposal in health, he said. This threshold is net household income ...

  21. Health service too 'overloaded' to cope with free GP visits

    Free GP Visit Cards will become available for those earning under under €46,000 in the autumn. You can listen back here: Main image: A GP and a patient. ...

  22. Thousands of people in Cork to benefit from free GP visits

    Over 340,000 more people are now eligible for free GP visits - you can find out if you qualify here. Thousands of Leesiders will be able to take advantage of free GP visits from this month onwards, under new provisions announced as part of Budget 2023. Changes to the GP visit card scheme have made more than 340,000 newly eligible as of this ...

  23. Under 8s GP visit card

    Email and postal applications. To apply for an under 8s GP visit card by email or post, download and fill in the Under 8s GP Visit Card application form (PDF, 244KB, 4 pages). Download the Irish version of the form. You can also phone 0818 22 44 78 to order an application form in the post.