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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.

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Health and medical services for children

Overview of children's health and medical services in ireland, free or discounted health services for children, hospital charges for children, who do i contact.

If your child is under 18, they can get some health services for free, even if you do not have a medical card .

Your child will be able to get these medical services until they are aged 16, and get some services until they are aged 18.

The free health services for children are usually available as part of:

• Maternity and infant welfare services
• Health services for preschool children
• School health services
• Vaccination and immunisation services

If your child is aged 16 or over, they may give consent to surgical, medical or dental procedures without the consent of a parent or guardian. Read about consent to medical treatment for children.

GP visit card for children

If your child is under 8, their visits to the GP are free in Ireland with the GP visit card for children under 8 .

If your child is over 8 years, the GP visit card is means tested.

Can my child get a medical card?

If you have a medical card , your child is included as a dependant on that card and can get the same medical card services as you.

Your child may qualify for a medical card if they:

• Are in residential care
• Living in Direct Provision
• Have been diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years
• Are in foster care

Medical cards for young people over 16

If you are aged 16–25 and dependent on a parent or guardian, you can get a medical card if your parent or guardian has a medical card. (This does not apply if your parent or guardian’s income is above the means test limit and they have a discretionary medical card.)

In the medical card means test , there is an allowance for children aged over 16. This allowance is increased if the child is in third-level education and is not getting a grant.

Prescribed drugs and medicines

Your child’s prescribe drugs and medicines are covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme , up to the age of 18 (or 23 if in full-time education).

A family member of any age can be included in the expenses if they have a physical or intellectual disability or an illness and cannot fully maintain themselves.

Disability services for children

If you are caring for a child with a disability, you can find a list of children's disability services for children and young people up to 18 years on our page on caring for a child with a disability .

Mental Health Services for children

If your child is aged under 18 and experiencing mental health difficulties, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS ) may be able to support you. CAMHS provide assessments and treatment for young people and their families who are experiencing mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm.

You must be referred by your GP to access CAMHS.

The HSE also have a list of other mental health supports for children and young people.

From 21 September 2022 in-patient services are free for children aged under 16 in all public hospitals.

If your child is admitted to a public hospital for treatment of health issues found at child and school health checks, they do not have to pay the usual in-patient public hospital charges .

There are a number of children's hospitals in Ireland. Children’s hospitals provide in-patient services, out-patient services, day care, accident and emergency services and specialist services for children. Entitlement to hospital services is the same in children’s hospitals as in public and voluntary hospitals.

Your Local Health Office can tell you about the services that are available in your area.

You can read information about the Assessment of Need for children with disabilities and children’s health .

The HSE website has information on the National Healthy Childhood Programme and further information for parents at mychild.ie .

Children in Hospital Ireland has information to help families prepare for their child having inpatient or outpatient hospital care .

Related documents

• Mental health services for children and young people in Ireland Find out what services are available for children and young people and how to access them. 2303.2815
• Health services for pre-school children The HSE provides free health screening for pre-school children. 2072.2837
• Inspector of Mental Health Services This document describes the Inspector of Mental Health Services who is appointed under the Mental Health Act 2001. 1761.0538

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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• The PPS number of the child or children you wish to register. What's a PPS Number?
• If you do not have a PPS number and your baby is under four months of age, you can register by leaving the PPS number blank. If you leave the PPS number blank, the HSE will write to you separately to acquire the PPS number.
• The PPS number of the child's parent or guardian.
• Your email address.

How to register your child for a free GP visit card as six and seven-year-olds now eligible

How to register your child for the scheme and how to find out if your GP is currently accepting patients

• 10:50, 11 AUG 2023

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From today, around 78,000 additional people will have access to free GP visits .

Children aged six and seven years old are now eligible for free GP care.

The scheme is part of an expansion in access to free GP care that will eventually cover around half a million people in Ireland.

READ MORE: Health warning issued over illegal 'barbie drug' advertising to young people online

Children aged six and under have been eligible for free GP care since 2015.

In the next few months, free GP care will be expanded to people who earn up to the median income.

How to access free GP care for your child

If you child currently has a GP visit card, it will be automatically extended as valid until the child's eighth birthday.

Parents can register their children for a GP visit card by visiting the HSE website on hse.ie/gpvisitcards.

Applications take between seven and 10 working days to process.

It is also possible to register by post.

In order to register you will need the follow three pieces of information:

• Your PPS number
• Your child's PPS number
• Your GP's name

You can check if your GP is accepting patients on this list .

What does the GP visit card cover

The GP visit card for under-eights covers:

• Free GP visits
• Assessments at ages two and five
• Out-of-hours urgent GP care
• Care for children with asthma

A 'significant milestone'

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said the expansion of free GP care to under-eights is a "significant milestone".

"I am committed to ensuring that cost will not be a barrier for children’s healthcare," he said.

"Ensuring that children in Ireland can visit their GP for free gives them access to healthcare at the right time to help ensure their long-term health and wellbeing."

He also said that the number of trainee general practitioner doctors will have increased from 900 per year to 1,300 by 2026.

GP staffing issues have long been an issue in Ireland.

Two weeks ago it was announced that pharmacists may take on some GP roles and university places for medical degrees will be increased in an effort to relieve the pressure on GPs.

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New GP Visit Card Schemed extended to Under 8’s

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD today announced the opening of registrations for GP visit cards for children aged 6 and 7. From today, Friday 11 August 2023, the Under 6s GP Visit Card scheme has been expanded to become the Under 8s GP Visit Card scheme now providing free GP care for all children aged under 8 in Ireland. The move represents the first stage in the biggest expansion in eligibility for free GP care in the history of the state covering up to 500,000 people.

From today, parents can register children aged 6 and 7 for a GP visit card at hse.ie. For many children there will be no need to register as children who turned 6 after 1 July 2023 will have their cards extended automatically by the HSE.

This expansion is supported by the landmark agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Irish Medical Organisation signed in July 2023 which put in place a series of financial supports for GPs.

Minister Donnelly said:

“We are committed to making healthcare affordable for families. We have abolished inpatient charges, first for children and then for all – saving families up to €800 per year. We have brought the maximum amount payable by households under the Drug Payment Scheme down to €80 per month. We have also continued to build on our collaboration with General Practice and secured an agreement with the Irish Medical Organsiation (IMO) which supports GPs to recruit and retain more staff to better meet demand. We are investing in a significant increase in GP training places, with a recent announcement outlining how training places would increase by a third by 2024, and have partnered with the Irish College of General Practitioners on its very successful non-EU GP Training Scheme which is delivering immediate increased capacity.[*see details below under Note to Editors].

“This expansion of the GP Visit Card scheme marks a significant milestone as we provide families with access to free GP care for children up to 7 years old, extending care for an extra 2 years of a child’s life. I am committed to ensuring that cost will not be a barrier for children’s healthcare. Ensuring that children in Ireland can visit their GP for free gives them access to healthcare at the right time to help ensure their long-term health and wellbeing.”

This expansion of free GP care to children aged 6 and 7 is the first stage of the expansion in eligibility for GP care without charges under the GP Agreement 2023. It will be followed by the expansion of free GP care to people earning up to the median income in September and November this year. In total, approximately 500,000 additional individuals are estimated to become eligible under this expansion, 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 and 430,000 individuals earning up to the median income. As this is the largest expansion in eligibility for GP care without charges ever undertaken, it is necessary to phase its introduction to avoid logjams in the application process. Applications under the median-income expansion will commence in two phases, on 11 September and 13 November.

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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.st0{fill:none;stroke-width:5;stroke-miterlimit:10;} GP visit cards for children under 8

With the gp visit card your child will get free gp visits up until their 8th birthday..

The principal doctors listed are Dr. Kilian McGrogan, Dr. Alan O'Donohoe, Dr. Judith Kavanagh, Dr. Una O'Neill and Dr. Orlaith O'Daly. 

From 11th August 2023 , the GP Visit card eligibility has expanded to include children ages 6 and 7 years, up to their 8th birthday. Patients whose existing cards have already expired will need to reapply.  

Please see a comprehensive leaflet on what the card does and does not cover here.  

For information on how to register your child please visit the HSE website here ››

Please note, we are accepting existing patients' applications in the first instance; new patients' applications will be dealt with as soon as possible. If you receive a letter from the HSE, your application is still pending on our system, so you do not need to reapply. 

In order to register your child or children you will need the following information:

• The PPS number of the child or children you wish to register. What's a PPS Number?  If you do not have a PPS number and your baby is under two months of age, you can register by leaving the PPS number blank. If you leave the PPS number blank, the HSE will write to you separately to acquire the PPS number.
• The PPS number of the child's parent or guardian.
• Your email address.

My child is almost 8, should I still register them under this scheme?

Yes, please register all your children under the age of 8. Your child will be eligible to be included in this scheme, until the end of the month after your child’s (children’s) 8th birthday. For example if your child is 8 on 12th March, their eligibility will run until 31st March that year.

What if my child (children) already has a Medical Card?

If your child already holds Medical Card eligibility, there is no need to register them for inclusion in this scheme. However if your family circumstances change in the future and your family no longer qualify for Medical Cards, you should then register your child (children) under 8 for inclusion in this scheme. If you and your family are applying for assessment for Medical Card/GP Visit Card, you should still include the details for your child (children) under 8, as a threshold for the child (children) will be included in the assessment of your Medical Card/GP Visit Card application. Your child (provided that they are under 8) will also then be automatically registered under the GP Visit Card Under 8s scheme. If your family is assessed as being eligible for a Medical Card your family (including your child) will receive Medical Cards. If your Medical Card application is unsuccessful, your child (children) under the age of 8 will be provided with a GP Visit Card under the GP Visit Card Under 8s scheme. 

I have registered my child online - what happens next? 

Once you complete the registration process, details are sent to us to approve your application. Once we have confirmed the application, a GP Visit Card will be issued to all eligible children within a few days. 

Will I have to pay for medicines prescribed by my GP?

Yes; the GP Visit Card for children under 8 does NOT cover the cost of medications prescribed by a GP, or hospital charges. If you child has eligibility under the Long Term Illness Scheme they will receive drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their long term illness free of charge. If you don't have a Medical Card, you should apply for a Drugs Payment Scheme Card . Under this scheme, an individual or family will pay a maximum of €144 per month for approved drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by them in that month. 

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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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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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