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GP visit cards for children under 8

What is the gp visit card for children, what is covered by the gp visit card for children, can my child get a free gp visit card, how to apply for a gp visit card for children.

If your child is under the age of 8, you can get a GP visit card for them. With the GP visit card, your child can visit a participating GP (family doctor) for free and get free specific assessments (see ‘What is covered’ below).

Children aged 6 and 7 now qualify

The GP visit card for children was initially only available for children under the age of 6. On 11 August 2023, it was extended to children who are 6 and 7. If your child is 6 or 7, you can register online for a GP visit card for them.

If your child turned 6 after 1 July 2023, their GP visit card will be extended automatically by the HSE and you do not need to register again.

Medical cards

If your child already has a medical card , you do not need to register them for a GP visit card. If your family circumstances change and you are no longer eligible for medical cards, you can then register your child for a GP visit card for children under 8.

Free GP visits include visits to the doctor, home visits and out-of-hours urgent GP visits for your child.

Free medical assessments for children aged 2 and 5

If your child has a GP visit card, they can get free medical assessments when they are aged 2 and 5. These are preventive checks that include charting your child’s age, weight and height, and taking any appropriate follow-up actions.

Checks for children with asthma

If your child has asthma, they will get free asthma checks and their medication reviewed, to make sure that they are using their inhalers correctly. You will also get a written plan to help you manage your child’s asthma.

Children over 2 will get their first free asthma check when they are diagnosed. The second check is arranged 3 months after their first check.

Your child’s asthma will be checked for free every year until they are 8.

What is not covered by the GP visit card for children under 8?

The GP visit card does not cover medicines or hospital care .

However, all in-patient hospital services are free for children under 16 in all public hospitals. Read more about hospital charges for children.

If you have a Drugs Payment Scheme card , you and your family only have to pay a maximum of €80 each month for drugs and medicines. This includes the medicines your child may be prescribed.

Your child can get a free GP visit card if they are:

• Aged under 8 years
• Ordinarily resident in Ireland

‘Ordinarily resident’ means your child currently lives in Ireland and intends to live in Ireland for at least one year.

When does the GP visit card expire for children?

Your child is included in the scheme until the end of the month of their 8th birthday. For example, if your child turns 8 in July, their card will expire on 31 July. The card shows the date that it is valid until.

If you have any questions before registering, you can phone Lo-call 0818 22 44 78.

To register, you will need:

• Your Personal Public Service (PPS) number
• The child's PPS number (see below)
• Your choice of participating GP

Your child’s PPS number

You are sent your child’s PPS number after registering their birth. If you do not have a PPS number for your child, contact Client Identity Services in the Department of Social Protection on Lo-call 0818 927 999, or email [email protected] .

If you do not have a PPS number and your baby is under 2 months of age, you can register and leave the PPS number blank and the HSE will write to you separately to get it.

Choosing your family doctor (GP)

Check if your GP is taking part in the scheme (pdf) . You may also need to check if your chosen GP is accepting new patients. If they are not, you must pick another GP. You can also check if they are accepting online applications on that list.

Apply by post or email

If a GP does not accept online registrations, or if you want to post or email the form, you can download the GP Visit Card for under 8s Registration Form (pdf) bring it to the GP to sign, and then email it to [email protected] or post it to:

PO Box 12629 Dublin 11

Register online

Before you register online, check this list to see if your chosen GP accepts online registrations . Then you can apply on the HSE website .

After you apply, you will get an email with a copy of your child’s registration details attached.

Print this email attachment, bring it to your GP to sign and then post it to:

Health Service Executive

PO Box 11745 Dublin 11 D11 XKF3

Lost GP visit card

If you have lost your card you can request a replacement by phoning Lo-call 0818 22 44 78 or emailing [email protected] . Include your child’s name, address and date of birth.

Related documents

• Examples of calculating eligibility for GP visit card for under 70s Case study showing how to calculate your income and allowable expenses for a GP visit card if you are aged under 70. 2642.5078
• 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. 2580.9407
• GP visit cards Unless you have a medical card or GP visit card, visits to family doctors are not free. What is a GP visit card and how can you apply? 2491.4868

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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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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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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General GP visit card

You can apply for a GP visit card if you:

• are age 8 to 69
• live in the Republic of Ireland or plan to live here for at least a year

GP visit cards for people age 8 to 69 are means tested.

This means we look at your income, personal circumstances and expenses to see if you qualify.

Not just about your salary

It's possible that you may qualify for a GP visit card even if the amount of money you earn is high.

If your expenses are also high, you could still qualify.

Examples of people who qualify

How to apply for a GP visit card

The only way to apply for this GP visit card is online.

You will need to provide your:

• date of birth
• income and expense details
• marital status
• details on any children dependent on you

You automatically qualify for a GP visit card if you live in Ireland and are:

• over 70 years old
• under 8 years old
• getting Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance

It does not matter what your income is - you do not need to apply.

But you do need to register. There is a separate registration process if you are in these groups.

How we work out if you qualify

To work out if you qualify for a GP visit card we look at your:

• personal circumstances, such as if you are married, your living situation and if you have any children dependent on you
• certain expenses
• if your income after expenses is below a certain financial threshold for your family size

If you get a Government allowance or grant towards any of your allowable expenses, you cannot count the overall amount as an expense. You can only count your contribution.

For example, you may have childcare costs of €800 per month. You claim €240 through the National Childcare Scheme. This means the amount you pay is €560. This is the amount you can claim as an expense in your application.

How we calculate your financial threshold

To get a GP visit card your net weekly income, after your expenses, must be below a qualifying financial threshold.

This qualifying financial threshold is unique to you.

We calculate it by adding the following 3 amounts:

• A basic rate - an amount of money depending on your circumstances.
• An amount for each dependant.
• Your allowable expenses.

The total is known as your weekly qualifying financial threshold.

You will qualify for a GP visit card if your net weekly income is less than this amount. Net income is your weekly income after tax, PRSI and USC.

Qualifying financial threshold

Basic rate amount + amount for dependants + allowable expenses = amount you can earn a week and qualify for a card

The basic rate is a fixed amount. It is determined by your marital status, living situation and if you have any children.

The basic rates are:

• Single person living alone age 69 and under: €418
• Single person living with family: €373
• Married or co-habiting couple with or without children dependent on them: €607
• Single parent: €607

These basic rates do not apply to the GP visit card for over 70s, carers or under 8s.

Additional rates for dependants are:

• First two children under 16 financially dependent on applicant: €57
• Third and subsequent children under 16 financially dependent on applicant: €61.50
• First two children over 16 financially dependent on applicant: €58.50
• Third and subsequent children over 16 financially dependent on applicant: €64
• A dependent child over 16 who is in full time 3rd level education, not grant aided: €117

Examples of qualifying financial thresholds

Barry and Mary have 2 children under the age of 16. Their combined monthly income after tax is €5,450.

Their expenses include:

• mortgage payment of €1,200 a month
• mortgage protection of €52 per month
• childcare costs of €1472 per month

Basic rate allowance

This is the fixed amount for married couple and single parent families age 69 and under with 2 dependant children under 16.

Dependants allowance

This is based on a rate of €57 for each dependant child under 16.

Weekly mortgage payment

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly mortgage payment (€1,200) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

Weekly mortgage protection cost

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly payment (€52) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

Weekly travel to work costs

€14.40 for Mary, €28 for Patrick

Calculated based on petrol usage for Mary to go to work and weekly Leap Card fare for Patrick to get to work.

Weekly childcare costs

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly payment (€1472) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

This gave a weekly childcare cost of €339.69.

But they also receive €126 a week towards their childcare costs through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). This amount is deducted to give them a weekly expense of €213.69

This total is their qualifying financial threshold. It was calculated by adding up their basic rate, allowances for dependants and their various allowable weekly expenses.

Qualifying financial threshold means that if the couple has combined weekly net income of €1,266.01 or less, the family will qualify for a GP visit card.

Net income is your weekly income (earnings) once tax, PRSI and USC have been deducted.

Barry, Mary and their children qualify for a GP visit card. Their net weekly income is €1,257.69.

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly income (€5,450) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

Their net income (€1,257.69) is less than their qualifying financial threshold (€1,266.01). This means that they qualify.

Yan is a single parent living in rented accommodation with her 11-year-old child. She pays €800 per month in rent. Her monthly income after taxes is €3,550.

This is a fixed amount for a single parent.

Weekly rent payment

This was calculated by multiplying her monthly rent (€800) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

Travel to work allowance

Calculated on distance travelled to work at 18c per kilometre.

This total is Yan's qualifying financial threshold. It was calculated by adding up her basic rate, allowances for dependants and her various allowable weekly expenses.

This means if she has a weekly net income of less than €875.62, she will qualify for a GP visit card.

Yan qualifies for a GP visit card. Her net weekly income is €819.23.

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly income (€3,550) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

Her net income (€819.23) is less than her qualifying financial threshold (€875.62). This means that she qualifies.

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 for that instead.

Savings, investments and property

We look at your savings, investments and property, other than your family home. If they are over a certain amount, we include them as part of your weekly income.

Single person

If you are single, we do not assess the first €36,000 of your savings, investments or property.

For the next:

• €36,001 to €46,000 - we add €1 to your weekly income for every €1,000
• €46,001 to €56,000 - we add €2 to your weekly income for every €1,000
• more than €56,000 - we add €4 to your weekly income for every €1,000

If you have savings of €50,000, your weekly income from them would be €18.

We get this by adding:

• €0 for your first €36,000
• €10 for your next €10,000 in savings - we add €1 for every €1,000 between €36,001 to €46,000
• €8 for your next €4,000 in savings - we add €2 for every €1,000 between €46,001 to €56,000

If you are a couple, we do not assess the first €72,000 of your savings, investments or property.

• €72,001 to €82,000 - we add €1 to your weekly income for every €1,000
• €82,001 to €92,000 - we add €2 to your weekly income for every €1,000
• more than €92,000 - we add €4 to your weekly income for every €1,000

If you have savings of €150,000, we do not assess your first €72,000 of savings.

Your weekly income from them would be €262.

• €0 for your first €72,000
• €10 for your next €10,000 – we add €1 for every €1000 between €72,001 to €82,000
• €20 for your next €10,000 – we add €2 for every €1000 between €82,001 to €92,000
• €232 for your next €58,000 – we add €4 for every €1000 over €92,001

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 payment
• life assurance for mortgage protection

No documents to include

You do not need to provide any documents with your application. But we may contact you at a later date and ask you for proof of your income and expenses.

Page last reviewed: 10 November 2023 Next review due: 10 September 2026

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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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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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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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