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

2.5 Who decides on an applicant’s eligibility?
The Health Service Executive is responsible for determining an applicant’s eligibility but
in practice the function is delegated to decision makers working within Primary,
Community and Continuing Care services.
Note regarding entitlement for persons over 70 years and over:
Applications by persons 70 Years and over are assessed and have their eligibility
determined by Primary Care Re-imbursement Service (PCRS).
3 Income guidelines and additional allowances.
3.1 Income Guidelines
The Health Service Executive issues Income Guidelines to assist in determining
entitlement to Medical Cards/GP Visit Cards and in that context National Income
Guidelines are issued to assist staff in making decisions. In revising the Income
Guidelines, the Health Service Executive has regard to government policy as outlined by
the Minister for Health & Children, increases in the Consumer Price Index and to other
issues which may be relevant. (The Income Guidelines, from January 2006 are set out in
Appendix II.)
The assessment of eligibility for Medical Cards and GP Visit Cards is based on the
combined income of an applicant and spouse after Tax, PRSI and Income Levy
contributions have been deducted (See Section 3.1.1 for definition of spouse).
Please note – The Pension Levy is not deductible from gross income for assessment
purposes.
Where a person’s assessable income is within the relevant Income Guidelines a Medical
Card/GP Visit Card will be granted. The associated decision making process is set out in
Section 3.10.
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