Health Care

Medical Card

Medical cards entitle you to a range of health services free of charge, such as GP (family doctor) services, certain prescribed drugs and public hospital services. Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a medical card, they are granted on the basis of a means test and/or medical need (the HSE issues income guidelines). If your income is below these guidelines, then you qualify and if it is above the guideline figure, then you usually do not qualify for a medical card but you may do so if there are exceptional medical circumstances or you would suffer undue financial hardship.

Apply with a completed MC1 or MC2 form to a participating doctor. Lists of participating doctors can be obtained from your Local Health Office

GP Visit Card

The GP Visit Card helps people who are not eligible for medical cards with the costs of visiting a doctor. The card covers you for GP visits only and does not cover prescription drugs and medicines or services such as HSE dental, ophthalmic and aural (hearing) services. The income limits for a GP visit card are 50% higher than those for a medical card.

Apply with a completed MC1 or MC2 form at: your Local Health Office

Aids, Appliances and Assistive Technology

If you are a medical card holder, the HSE will help with the purchase costs of necessary medical and surgical aids and appliances (such as wheelchairs and walking aids). If you do not have a medical card, you may get some assistance from the HSE if you are unable to meet the costs from your own resources and the aids and appliances are considered necessary as part of hospital treatment. If you have one of the conditions designated under the Long-Term Illness Scheme, you may also get assistance towards the purchase costs of medical and surgical appliances for that condition. Members of private health insurance schemes may be able to get a refund of part of the cost of medical and surgical aids.

Contact: Disability Services in your Local Health Office to check if assistance is available.

Refunds of VAT

A refund of VAT (Value Added Tax) may be claimed for certain aids and appliances used by someone with a disability to assist them with independent living and working.

Apply to: Central Repayments Office Revenue Commissioners, Coolshannagh, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan.

Long-term Illness Scheme

If your child has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and certain other conditions, you can obtain the necessary drugs and medicines for the treatment of that condition free of charge.

Apply to: your Local Health Office

Home Care Support Scheme

The Home Care Support Scheme is an HSE scheme that provides practical support and care, the individual needs of your child. Broadly speaking, these supports may include the services of nurses, home care attendants, home helps and various therapies including physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.

The scheme is aimed mainly at those requiring medium-to-high caring support in order to continue living at home independently. The level and range of services provided to you are related to your assessed needs and the availability of resources. This is still a relatively new scheme so to date there are no national guidelines regarding how admission to the scheme is decided or how income or means are assessed.

Contact: your Local Health Office or your local public health nurse

Drugs Payment Scheme

Under the Drugs Payment Scheme a family has to pay only the first €120 per month for all approved prescribed drugs, medicines and appliances to be used by that person or his or her family in that month.

Apply by: Completing a registration from available from your local pharmacy and you Local Health Office

Tax Relief on Medical Expenses not Covered by State

If you pay medical expenses that are not covered by the State or private health insurance, you may claim tax relief on some expenses. These include the costs involved in nursing home care.
You can claim any medical expenses that you pay for yourself or on behalf of any other person.

Apply by completing form MED1 at the end of the tax year, this can be downloaded from the revenue’s website (www.revenue.ie) or on 1890 306 706.