gp visit card threshold calculator

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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. 3242.5623
• 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. 2982.4668
• 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. 2755.3894

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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HSE encourages people to apply for the GP visit Card online

HSE Press Release

Monday, 13 November 2023

The HSE is encouraging all those who may be eligible to apply online via  hse.ie/gpvisitcards  following the announcement by Minster for Health Stephen Donnelly TD.

Encouraging those eligible to apply for a card Shaun Flanagan, HSE Assistant National Director, Primary Care Reimbursement Service said:   “The HSE would encourage all those who think they may be eligible to apply. It’s important to remember that you could quality even if the amount of money you earn is high and if your expenses are also high. Your application will be means tested and you will be asked to self-declare your income and allowable outgoings.

“When you apply, you should have you PPSN number, income and expense details, marital status, DOB (date of birth) and details on any children dependent on you to make it easier for you. Remember the quickest and easiest way to apply for a GP visit card is  online .

“GP visit cards allow the holders to access GP care without charges. If you have a GP visit card, you don't have to pay to see your doctor, but you will have to pay for medicines and other services.”

People can apply for a GP visit card if they are age 8 to 69, live in the Republic of Ireland or plan to live here for at least a year, and will be income tested. This means we look at a person’s income, personal circumstances and expenses to see if they qualify.

The HSE operates random and targeted control processes to ensure that only those who qualify receive means tested GP visit cards. You may be asked to produce supporting documentation to process your application.

The people that qualify for free GP visit card after Budget 2023 with half a million more now eligible

Currently, children aged 5 and under and those over 70 qualify for scheme - but this will be expanded significantly in the coming months

• 15:51, 29 SEP 2022

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Hundreds of thousands more people will qualify for free GP care following Budget 2023.

Currently, children aged under six and those over 70 qualify for scheme - but this will be expanded significantly in the coming months. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has called the expansion of the scheme "a gamechanger" and said that Budget 2023 marks the "highest allocation of funding to the health service in the history of the state".

Other health measures announced in Budget 2023 include the scrapping of hospital inpatient fees, expanding the free contraception scheme to women aged 30 and under and the provision of IVF services.

Read more: Budget 2023: Thousands more now eligible for fuel allowance as payment hiked by hundreds

Minister Donnelly said that the expansion of the GP visit card scheme will see half a million more people become eligible. Here's everything you need to know:

Who is eligible?

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 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 net household income, after tax.

When are the cards being issued?

By the end of 2022, children aged six and seven will have received their GP visit card. From April 1, 2023, the scheme will be expanded to those with a net median household income of €46,000 or less.

What does the scheme cover?

A GP visit card allows you to visit a participating GP for free, including out of hours services. Blood tests to diagnose or monitor a condition are covered.

The card does not cover hospital charges or prescribed drugs.

How can those who qualify under Budget 2023 apply?

More information on how those who qualify under Budget 2023 can get their free GP visit card will be released in the coming months. Citizens Information says: "These changes require legislation. This page will be updated as more detail becomes available."

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Eligibility for GP visit cards expanded for people aged up to 69 and children aged 8 and over

THE MINISTER FOR Health Stephen Donnelly has announced an expansion of GP Visit Card eligibility. 

From next month, people aged up to 69 and parents of children aged 8 and up will be able to apply for a means-tested GP Visit Card online.

The means test assessment will consider a person’s or family’s circumstances, income and expenses in order to determine whether they are eligible for a card. 

The online application system will open on a staggered basis in order to cope with demand. The first round of applications will open on 11 September and the second will open on 13 November.

People can apply on the HSE website . 

Announcing the expansion in Finglas today, Donnelly said: “For the first time in the history of our State, over half the population will have access to free GP care.

“It’s been targeted very carefully based on median income, and then universality for children. There are a lot of families out there who up until now have not qualified for a medical card, they haven’t qualified for the GP card, and they really can’t afford the fees,” he said.

He said people feel that they “have not had the choice to go to the GP” due to the cost involved, adding that “that is not something we want to see”.

“We want to see everyone able to access their doctor or their local nurse in a GP practice when they need it or when their child needs it, and that really is the group of people that this is focused on.”

Registration for free GP care for children aged six and seven opened earlier this month. Children under 6 years of age have been eligible for GP Visit Cards since 2015.

Donnelly also said that he will not be pushing for further expansion of free GP care in the upcoming Budget. 

He said he believes the Government has “pushed that as far as it can be pushed” without creating problems with accessing services for patients. 

 The free care scheme has been controversial with GP groups. Earlier this year, the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP)  warned that if more people become medical card holders, they will struggle to get an appointment .

Speaking to reporters, the Minister said the Government had committed to an expansion of the service for children under 12, but said that it did not have a commitment up to the median income.

“We’re doing some of the journey up to the under 12s, that is still government policy, so six and sevens obviously in the last few weeks, and then an additional 430,000 up to the median income,” he said.

“The GPS raised very legitimate concerns in terms of making sure that patients could get access, and the capacity of general practice to absorb this extra demand, which inevitably will follow.

“So I believe that we have pushed that as far as it can be pushed without creating other problems for all of the other patients in terms of access… I’m not anticipating nor will I be asking government for a further expansion in this coming Budget.”

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Assessment for a medical card

We assess your application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that you can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to your own financial circumstances.

We look at your household income after tax, PRSI and the Universal Social Charge (USC) have been deducted. We also take certain expenses into account.

Income, savings and assets

The types of income you should include in your application are:

• social welfare payments
• wages (take-home pay, after tax, PRSI and USC)
• income from savings and investments
• maintenance payments
• rental income from family home (for example a sub-let room)
• property other than the family home

You should also include income from royalties or payments under a settlement, covenant or from an estate.

If your only household income is a social welfare payment, you qualify for a medical card and should apply.

Allowable expenses

All allowable expenses help to increase the amount that you can earn and still qualify for a card.

The types of allowable expenses you should include in your application are:

• rent payments
• mortgage payments
• childcare costs
• travel to work costs
• net cost of private nursing home care
• mortgage protection premium
• life assurance for mortgage protection

Documents you need to include

You must provide income and expenses documents with your application. These can be photos, scans or photocopies of the original documents. They must show your name and address.

For expenses, you must show proof of current payments dated within the last 3 months.

Documents you need to include with your application

How much you can earn and still qualify

Read about your qualifying financial threshold .

Page last reviewed: 20 January 2023

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Over 70s means test for medical cards

Introduction, what income is assessed, income over the basic rates for over 70s, savings and investments assessment, is property assessed for the over 70s medical card, more information.

If you are aged over 70, you automatically qualify for a GP visit card . You can get a medical card instead if your weekly income is below a certain amount. Your income, savings and investments are reviewed by the HSE in the means test. However, there are certain exceptions.

Check if you automatically qualify for a medical card, as some people are exempt from the means test.

If you are aged under 70 , there is a different means test for a medical card.

Medical card basic rates for over 70s

The weekly basic rate of income for a single person over the age of 70 is:

• €550 for a single person
• €1,050 for couples who are married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership

Your weekly income is your gross income (your income before tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge (USC) have been deducted).

If your only income comes from social welfare or HSE payments, you should get a medical card even if your income is above the means test rate for your age group.

Medical card basic rates for couples

The assessment of a couple is based on the age of the older person.

Your spouse or partner is aged under 70 years: Where only one of you is aged over 70 years, you will both qualify for a medical card if your combined income is not over €1,050 a week.

Surviving spouse or partner: If your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner dies and you are aged over 70, you can keep your medical card for 3 years, provided that your income remains less than the limit for a couple. After 3 years, the relevant income limit for a single person applies.

If you are aged under 70 when your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner dies, the relevant income limit for a single person applies.

The HSE reviews your gross weekly income from:

• Interest from savings and investments
• All other sources of income

Your gross income is your income before tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge (USC) have been deducted.

Income not assessed

If you are over 70, the HSE will not assess income from:

• Fuel Allowance
• Telephone Support Allowance
• Living Alone Allowance
• Additional property if generating no rental income
• Household Benefits awarded by Department of Social Protection , for example, electricity or gas allowance and television licence)

When reviewing your income for a medical card the HSE does not include:

If your income is above the HSE basic rate for over 70s you:

• Will get a GP visit card for over 70s
• Can still apply for the Drugs Payment Scheme
• May be assessed under the basic rates for people under 70

If your income is reviewed under the means test for people under 70 , certain income is not assessed and some allowable expenses (such as rent or mortgage costs and nursing home fees) will be taken into account.

Discretionary medical card

If your finances are still above the qualifying limits for a medical card , the HSE can look at your social and medical situation. They will decide if you would have trouble paying for medical care for you and your family, and may give you a discretionary medical card . For example, they will consider if you would have difficulty meeting significant ongoing medical expenses without a medical card.

If you still do not qualify for a medical card, you:

Your savings and investments are also reviewed by the HSE in the means test for a medical card .

Savings and investments of up to €36,000 for a single person, and up to €72,000 for a couple, are disregarded.

Interest on savings or investments over the limit is taken into account in the means test.

This means that only the interest or income earned on your savings and investments will be counted as income, not the total value of the savings or investments themselves.

How does the HSE assess interest?

There are different ways the HSE can assess your savings and investments. They can use:

• A Certificate of Interest (usually from your bank) of all your savings, or
• Copies of bank statements showing the current balance on your account or account

If you have stocks or shares, you will need to provide a copy of your current Share Certificates showing shareholdings.

The HSE can calculate your weekly income from savings and investments using the following rules:

For example, if you are a couple and have €90,000 in savings, any income on the first €72,000 will not be considered.  The income on the next €10,000 will be considered at €1 per €1,000 totalling €10. The balance of €8,000 will be considered at €2 per €1,000 totalling €16.

Check what documents you may need for the HSE to assess your income from savings and investment .

If you are over 70, the value of your properties are not assessed by the HSE. This could be a family home, a holiday home or any other property.

Property that you rent out

If you have property that you rent out, the rental income is assessed by the HSE. Rental income can include income from renting a room in your family home, a holiday home, leased land or any other property.

Rental income is assessed after deducting mortgage payments and insurance premiums.

Property that is not rented

If you are aged over 70, income will not be assessed from your property that is not generating a rental income.

If you are aged under 70 and have unused land or buildings that you are not renting, but could be leased or sold, the HSE reviews the value of the property as a savings and investment assessment (above).

Read more information about the medical card , including how to apply. Find a copy of the application form for a medical card for over 70s .

You can read more information about medical cards and GP visit cards , including how to apply. If you are under 70, check if you are eligible under the means test for people aged under 70.

You can also read about prescription charges for medical card holders .

Find more information on the medical card and GP visit card on the HSE website. You can also find more detail in the HSE Assessment Guidelines for medical cards and GP visit cards .

The HSE has information on financial assessment.

Related documents

• 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. 2076.487
• Cash income not included in the means test This page lists the income from cash not included in the means test for social welfare payments. 1668.2103
• Emergency medical cards In certain emergency situations, a healthcare professional can apply for you to get a medical card known as an emergency medical card. 1507.294

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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Additional 215,000 people eligible for free GP care from today

By Michael McHale 11th September 2023

An additional 215,000 people are eligible for free GP care from today (Monday, September 11).

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that the qualifying financial threshold for eligibility for the GP visit card has increased, expanding the number of eligible children and adults. The thresholds apply to people aged 8-69, with the under-8s and people aged 70 and over already automatically eligible for free GP care.

“This expansion of the GP visit card scheme will help people to manage the cost-of-living challenges we face, and I encourage those who may be eligible to apply now,” Minister Donnelly said.

Today’s development is the first of two phases of expansion which will provide free GP care to an estimated 430,000 people in Ireland on a means-tested basis. The second phase will take place in November. Last month free GP care was also made available to 78,000 children aged 6 and 7.

Under the expansion announced today:

• The weekly income threshold for a single person living alone increased from €304 to €361.
• The weekly income threshold for a single person living with family increased from €271 to €322.
• The weekly income threshold for a couple without dependent(s), a couple with dependent(s) or a one-parent family increased from €441 to €524.

The expansion is supported by the agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) which put in place a series of financial supports for GPs.

“I am delighted that we will be implementing this expansion with the agreement of the IMO,” Minister Donnelly added. “We collaborated successfully with general practice through the period of the Covid pandemic, when GPs displayed an extraordinary commitment to delivering patient care. I look forward to continuing our collaboration as we embark on this historic expansion of free GP care.

“The expansion of the GP visit card scheme in 2023 is a significant milestone as we bring free GP care to close to 500,000 people this year. I am committed to ensuring affordable access for people in Ireland who are facing the toughest economic challenges. Removing the cost barrier to visiting their GP gives them better access to health care and supports their health and wellbeing.”

Tagged with: Department of Health free GP care GP visit card primary care

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Free GP visit cards extended to 215,000 people as means-test thresholds rise

Under the change the weekly base eligibility threshold for a single person living alone increases to €361 from €304.

People aged between eight years and 69 can now apply on the HSE website for a means-tested GP visit card. Photograph: iStock

Free GP services are being made available to an additional 215,000 people from today as part of a Government drive to bring up to 500,000 more people into the service this year.

People aged between eight years and 69 can now apply on the HSE website for a means-tested GP visit card.

“We are making significant steps forward in making healthcare affordable for all,” said Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

“This expansion of the GP visit card scheme will help people to manage the cost-of-living challenges we face, and I encourage those who may be eligible to apply now.”

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Under the change now in force, the weekly base eligibility threshold for a single person living alone increases to €361 from €304.

The threshold for a single person living with family rises to €322 from €271 and the threshold for a couple with or without dependents rises to €524 from €441.

For couples with dependents a weekly allowance per dependent is added to the threshold. Similarly, the threshold for a one-parent family rises to €524 from €441 and a weekly allowance per dependent is added to the threshold.

The allowance for the first and second child under 16 is €57 and the same allowance for third and further children under 16 is €61.50.

The allowance for the first and second child aged above 16 and financially dependent is €58.50 and the same allowance for third and further children above 16 is €64. There is a €117 allowance for all children aged 16 above who are financially dependent, in third-level education and not grant-aided.

The move to provide more free GP visit cards follows the August expansion of the free GP scheme to include 78,000 children aged six and seven.

As a result of such changes, all children aged under eight and people aged 70 and above are automatically eligible for a GP visit card.

The free GP service will be expanded to include a further 215,000 people in November when the means-test income thresholds increase again.

Arthur Beesley

Arthur Beesley is Current Affairs Editor of The Irish Times

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Free GP care: 215,000 more people now eligible for free GP visit card

09.44 13 Nov 2023

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An extra 215,000 people are eligible for a free GP visit card from today.

All children up to the age of eight years old are now eligible for free GP care, alongside everyone over the age of 70.

It means nearly 850,000 people in the country can now access free GP care in Ireland.

Today’s expansion is the third the scheme has seen this year after the cars were rolled out to children aged six and seven years old in August and changes to the income threshold announced in September.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning Kildare GP Brendan O’Shea welcomed the move – but warned that many GP practices are finding it hard to meet demand.

“It is a good thing,” he said. “It is bringing us more in line with Europe and in most of Europe, most primary care, most general practice, is provided free at the point of service.

“So, in principle, it is a good thing - it's a good thing in terms of social medicine - but back in the practices we are working very hard.

“We're heading into another winter and it's going to be very difficult. There are general cutbacks in the health system and reduced recruitment to hospital positions and that always has a knock-on for us in general practice.”

GP shortage

Dr O'Shea said a significant extension in the number of GPs being trained up was announced last week – but warned that it takes up to 12 years to fully train a GP.

He rejected claims that free GP leads to people abusing the system and visiting the doctor for small ailments.

The Kildare GP said studies showed that when free GP care was rolled out to children under the age of six, usage went up by between 20% and 25%.

He said a “very small percentage” of people potentially overuse the system when care is free – but the majority of extra use is justifiable.

“What you have is, you have people with things like asthma, instead of sticking it out for another day or two, they consult a doctor a little bit earlier,” he said.

“When numbers of them do that, that reduces the number of admissions into the acute hospital system and arguably, at the end of the day, the evidence would suggest that it saves lives.

“So, what we're doing is, is we're enabling people to attend a little bit earlier.”

Free GP care

He said cost is often a deterrent to people who have good reasons to attend a doctor.

“So, with this kind of an extension, we are going to have to see more people,” he said.

“We are concerned about that and we are grappling with that but it isn’t casual misuse of the system, It's essential medical care.”

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Home / News & Sport / Minister for Health encourages GP visit card applications as additional 215,000 people become eligible

Minister for Health encourages GP visit card applications as additional 215,000 people become eligible

• News , Top Stories
• November 13, 2023

The Minister for Health is encouraging people to apply for GP visit cards as an additional 215,000 people become eligible.

This is the third expansion of the scheme this year which has made free GP care available to an estimated additional 500,000 people across the country.

It follows the toll-out of free GP Visit Cards to 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 in August, and changed to the income threshold.

For full press release, see below:

Minister for Health encourages people to apply for GP Visit Cards as additional 215,000 people become eligible

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD has today announced that an additional 215,000 people are now eligible for free GP Visit Cards.

This is the third expansion of the scheme this year which has made free GP care available to an estimated additional 500,000 people in Ireland.

It follows the roll-out of free GP Visit Cards to 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 in August, and changes to the income threshold which made an additional 215,000 people eligible in September.

Minister Donnelly said:

“I am delighted that the three expansions of the GP Visit Card scheme are now complete and that the income threshold for cards has increased by over one third. This expansion is a significant step towards removing cost as barrier to healthcare and is particularly significant in the current cost of living crisis.

“You may think you do not qualify but the application process factors in household expenses such as mortgage or rent and childcare, along with income. With the increases in income threshold, now close to half of households in Ireland could be eligible for free GP care.

“The HSE have put in place a simplified online application process which is easier and faster to complete. I encourage everyone to go online, find out more and apply at www.hse.ie/GPVisitCards.”

The expansion of the scheme has been facilitated by an agreement between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, and the Irish Medical Organisation which put in place a series of financial supports for GPs.

“As we implement the final phase of this expansion, I’m proud to say that close to 850,000 individuals are now eligible for free GP care, including all children up to their 8th birthday and all those over 70. This is in addition to Medical Card holders who also have access to free GP care.

“We’re moving closer to universal healthcare, and this progress is underpinned by constructive collaboration with stakeholders in order that services can meet demand.”

GP visit cards for people aged between 8 and 69 are means-tested. The expansion of the scheme has increased the qualifying financial threshold for the following groups:

The weekly income threshold for a single person living alone increased from €304 to €418.

The weekly income threshold for a single person living with family increased from €271 to €373.

The weekly income threshold for a couple without dependents increased from €441 to €607.

The weekly income threshold for a couple with dependent(s) also increased from €441 to €607, plus an allowance for dependents.

The weekly income threshold for a one parent family, increased from €441 to €607, plus an allowance for dependents.

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