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Ireland - Apply for GP Visit Card

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ProcedureEdit

  • To apply for a GP Visit Card, you use the same application form as that for a medical card. While your GP Visit Card application is being processed, the HSE will also assess your entitlement for a full medical card.
  • Download an application form for a GP Visit Card and Medical Card. Complete the part of the form that is applicable to you and return to your Local Health Office or Health Centre. Remember to include your own PPS Number (and those of your dependents) when you complete the form.
  • Contact your Local Health Office for more information on GP Visit Cards.



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Required DocumentsEdit

PPS Number



Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Local Health Office http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/LHO/



EligibilityEdit

Eligibility for all GP Visit Cards is means tested. That is, your income is assessed by the HSE as part of the application process. To qualify for a GP Visit Card, the rules are largely the same as those for medical cards, except the income guidelines are 50% higher. Broadly speaking, you will qualify for a GP Visit Card if;

  • the combined income of you and your spouse/partner (if any) is less than the income guidelines set out below that relate to you;
  • the HSE decide that financial hardship would occur because of your medical costs or other exceptional circumstances even where your combined income is greater than the income guidelines below.

In order to apply for a GP Visit Card, you must be ordinarily resident in Ireland. That is, you must be currently living here and intend to continue to live here for a year. You can read more about entitlement to public health services here. You must also meet specific income guidelines in order to qualify for a Card. You must also meet specific income guidelines in order to qualify for a Card.



FeesEdit

The weekly income limits (gross less tax, Universal Social Charge and PRSI deductions) were last updated in January 2009. To qualify for a GP visit card your income should normally be below the following limits:

Income Guidelines for GP Visit CardEdit

  • Single person living alone
    • Aged under 66: 276
    • Aged 66-69: 302
  • Single person living with family
    • Aged under 66: 246
    • Aged 66-69: 260
  • Married or cohabiting couple (or lone parent with dependent children)
    • Aged under 66: 400
    • Aged 66-69: 447
  • Allowance for each of first 2 children aged under 16
    • Aged under 66: 57
    • Aged 66-69: 57
  • Allowance for 3rd and for each subsequent child under 16
    • Aged under 66: 61.50
    • Aged 66-69: 61.50
  • Allowance for each of first 2 children aged over 16 (with no income)
    • Aged under 66: 58.50
    • Aged 66-69: 58.50
  • Allowance for 3rd and for each subsequent child over 16 (no income)
    • Aged under 66: 64
    • Aged 66-69: 64
  • Each dependant over 16 years in full-time non-grant aided third-level
    • Aged under 66: 117
    • Aged 66-69: 117

There are also allowances for certain expenses incurred in respect of childcare costs and rent/mortgage payments. The HSE do not clarify the exact value of accommodation and childcare expenses. They usually have guidelines in each Local Health office area which take local charges into account.

Allowances for weekly travel costs to work are assessed as the actual cost of public transport, or mileage at 30 cent per mile (18 cent per km).



ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever



Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.



Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.



Processing TimeEdit

Please explain the processing your application.



Related VideosEdit

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M".



InstructionsEdit

  • The GP Visit Card is a plastic card, about the same size as a credit card. It carries your full name/family name, your sex, the name of your GP and the validity period of the Card.

GP Visit Card Reviews

  • As each GP Visit Card is valid for an individual period, each application is reviewed over time. The main reason for setting review dates is because income levels may change, dependents grow up, or other change could reasonably happen over time that might affect eligibility. The review dates for GP Visit Cards are largely the same as those for medical cards.
  • Having a GP Visit Card only allows you to visit your GP for free. Any prescribed drugs associated with your GP visit are not free. Instead, you can apply to become part of the Drugs Payment Scheme. Any in-patient public hospital services and out-patient public hospital services associated with a medical condition are free but you will have to pay some hospital charges.

Rules

  • Eligibility for all GP Visit Cards is means tested. That is, your income is assessed by the HSE as part of the application process. To qualify for a GP Visit Card, the rules are largely the same as those for medical cards, except the income guidelines are 50% higher. Broadly speaking, you will qualify for a GP Visit Card if;
    • the combined income of you and your spouse/partner (if any) is less than the income guidelines set out below that relate to you;
    • the HSE decide that financial hardship would occur because of your medical costs or other exceptional circumstances even where your combined income is greater than the income guidelines below.
  • If your application for a GP Visit Card is refused, you will receive a letter from the HSE stating this. The letter will also set out the reasons why your application has been refused. You may appeal this decision by requesting your local health office review your application. When you seek a review, you should draw attention to any change in circumstances since you made your original application. In addition, it is useful to include any relevant issues, which may have been overlooked.
  • Alternatively, you may appeal to an Appeals Officer in the HSE. Contact information will be set out in your letter of refusal.



Required InformationEdit

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.



Need for the DocumentEdit

Certain people who do not qualify for a medical card may apply for a GP (family doctor) Visit Card. GP Visit Cards allow individuals and families who qualify, to visit their family doctor for free.

In situations where for example, someone has an ongoing medical condition that requires exceptional and regular medical treatment or visits to the doctor, then the Health Service Executive (HSE) may grant a Card to that individual or family even where their income is greater than the guidelines. Usually the HSE will only consider these applications where an ongoing medical condition is causing or likely to cause undue financial hardship.



Information which might helpEdit

Enter other informations which might help



Other uses of the Document/CertificateEdit

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.



External LinksEdit

Public Service Information GP Visit Cards http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/entitlement_to_health_services/gp_visit_cards.html

Section 58 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act 2005) http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2005/a305.pdf



OthersEdit

The law on entitlement to GP Visit Cards

  • GP Visit Cards are provided for in Section 58 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act 2005). This legislation states that the HSE "shall make available without charge" GP services for people who have full eligibility (standard medical card holders) and people with limited eligibility for whom it would be "unduly burdensome" to arrange such services for themselves and their dependants.
  • People with full eligibility for health services get the standard medical card. Those with limited eligibility who meet this criterion get the GP Visit Card.
  • The legal difference between the "undue hardship" criterion for qualifying for a standard medical card and the "unduly burdensome" criterion for the GP visit card isn't clear. To qualify for a GP Visit Card, the rules are largely the same as those for medical cards, except the income guideines are 50% higher.
  • Holders of GP Visit Cards have limited eligibility for other health services. This means that while they are entitled to free GP services, they do not have an entitlement to the full range of free health services like medical cards. They are not entitled to free prescribed drugs and appliances, dental and optical services and they may have to pay in-patient, out-patient changes and short term changes unless they come within the scope of one of the exempted groups.


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