Medical Card/G.P. Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines

2.2 GP Visit Card
A GP Visit Card is confirmation that the HSE will provide free access to GP Services
only to individuals and families. A person qualifies in much the same way as for a
Medical Card except that the Income Guidelines are currently 50% higher.
2.3 Who is entitled to a Medical Card?
Entitlement to a Medical Card is governed by primary legislation (See Appendix. V). In
assessing eligibility for a Medical Card the HSE will have due regard for the legislation,
regulations and relevant circulars from the Dept of Health and Children which are
reflected in these guidelines.
Any person who is considered by the Health Service Executive to be "ordinarily resident"
in the State is entitled to have their eligibility for Medical Card considered. (See
Appendix V for definition of ordinary resident).
There are three (3) main categories of people entitled to a Medical Card:
1. Applicants (and their dependants) whose assessable income comes within the
relevant Income Guidelines set out in Appendix II.
2. Applicants (and their dependants) whose assessable income is in excess of the
Income Guidelines but where the HSE considers that to refuse a Medical Card
would cause undue hardship.( See Section 3.10).
3. The following applicants are exempt from a means test : -
- Persons with EU entitlement.
Under EU Regulation 1408/71 persons moving from one Member State to another
Member State within the European Union “retain the rights and advantages
acquired” through social insurance contribution made in their home country and
this includes access to health services.
This is dealt with in detail in Section 5 of this document.
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