Are you entitled to a GP visit card?
GP visit card-are you entitled to one?
Are you entitled to a GP visit card? The Department of Health has just increased the income guidelines for these cards, which entitle a person to free GP visits only.
Example 1
Mary is a single parent with one dependent child. She earns €540 nett per week (ie Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions). She has the following outgoings - €100 per week child care expenses, €100 per week housing rent and €40 per week travel expenses to work.
This is how her application for a medical card will be assessed:
| Medical Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 266.50 | 540.00 | |
| Dependent Child | 38.00 | ||
| Child Care Expenses | 100.00 | ||
| Housing Rent | 100.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 40.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 544.50 |
Total Income | 544.50 |
A medical card will be issued to Mary.
Example 2
Patrick and Ann are a married couple with six (6) children. They have assessable earnings (ie Gross less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) of €675 per week. They have the following outgoings - €100 per week towards house mortgage together with €70 per week travel to work costs.
| Medical Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 266.50 | 675.00 | |
| Dependent Children | 240.00 | ||
| Housing Mortgage | 100.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 70.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 676.50 |
Total Income | 675.00 |
A medical card will be issued to the family.
Example 3
John is a single person with no dependents and has a weekly assessable income (Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) of €320. He pays €100 per week in housing rent and €40 per week on travel expenses to work.
| Medical Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 184.00 | 320.00 | |
| House Rent | 100.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 40.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 324.00 |
Total Income | 320.00 |
A full medical card will be issued to John.
Example 4
David is a single parent with one dependent child attending college. He earns €700 nett per week (ie Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions). He has the following outgoings €150 per week housing rent and €40 per week travel expenses to work.
This is how his application for a medical card will be assessed:
| Medical Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 266.50 | 700.00 | |
| Dependant Child | 78.00 | ||
| Housing Rent | 150.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 40.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 534.50 |
Total Income | 700.00 |
David is not eligible for a medical card but the Health Service Executive will assess him for a GP Visit Card.
This is how David's application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:
| GP Visit Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 400.00 | 700.00 | |
| Dependant Child | 117.00 | ||
| Housing Rent | 150.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 50.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 717.00 |
Total Income | 700.00 |
A
GP Visit Card will be issued to David, and his dependant child will also
qualify in his/her own right for a GP Visit Card.
Example 5
Michael and Angela are a married couple with two dependent children. Their combined income is €1,100 nett per week (ie Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions). They have the following outgoings - €250 per week child care expenses, €300 per week house mortgage payments and €70 per week travel expenses to work.
This is how their application for a medical card will be assessed:
| Medical Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 266.50 | 1,100.00 | |
| Dependent Children | 76.00 | ||
| Child Care Expenses | 250.00 | ||
| House Mortgage | 300.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 70.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 962.50 |
Total Income | 1,100.00 |
The family is not eligible for a medical card but the Health Service Executive will assess them for a GP Visit Card.
This is how Michael and Angela's application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:
| GP Visit Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 400.00 | 1,100.00 | |
| Dependant Children | 114.00 | ||
| Child Care Expenses | 250.00 | ||
| Housing Rent | 300.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 70.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 1,134.00 |
Total Income | 1,100.00 |
A GP Visit Card will be issued to the family.
Example 6
Aileen is a single person with no dependents and has a weekly assessable income (Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) of €410. She pays €100 per week in housing rent and €40 per week on travel expenses to work.
| Medical Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 184.00 | 410.00 | |
| Housing Rent | 100.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 40.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 324.00 |
Total Income | 410.00 |
Aileen is not eligible for a medical card but the Health Service Executive will assess her for a GP Visit Card.
This is how Aileen's application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:
| GP Visit Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 276.00 | 410.00 | |
| Housing Rent | 100.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 40.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 416.00 |
Total Income | 410.00 |
A GP Visit Card will be issued to Aileen.
Example 7
James is a single person with no dependents aged 67 who has recently retired. he has a weekly assessable income (Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) from his pensions of €430. He pays €40 per week in housing rent.
| Medical Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 184.00 | 430.00 | |
| Housing Rent | 100.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 40.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 324.00 |
Total Income | 430.00 |
James is not eligible for a medical card but the Health Service Executive will assess him for a GP Visit Card.
This is how James's application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:
| GP Visit Card Guidelines | Weekly Income | ||
| June 2006 | |||
| € | € | ||
| Basic | 302.00 | 430.00 | |
| Housing Rent | 100.00 | ||
| Travel Costs | 40.00 | ||
| Total Guideline | 442.00 |
Total Income | 430.00 |
A GP Visit Card will be issued to James.
Comments
As one of thousands of people who is co-habiting and has children I wonder how are co-habiting couples assessed? For example what are the entitlements for a co-habiting couple with one child - are they be assessed separately, ie. as a single mother with one dependent and a single man or are their combined incomes taken into consideration?
My sons aged 21 and 26 are living with me at home. The younger son has a job but does not pay rent. The older one has no job, but is actively seeking employnebt. Do either qualify for GP card?
if my babysitter is not paying tax can she be named in the application form.-MC1
What is the situation where both parents are working - 1 in full time permanent employment, the other in self-employment where the income varies from week to week. What is the situation if there is just one child involved. I imagine a lot of people are embarressed approaching the HSE with regards to the GP/Medical cards based on pride alone. There should be an advertising campaign to resolve this.
The best thing to do is ring your local health authority or check out hse.ie - it sounds like it is based on one's outgoings (rent/mortgage) versus income so I'd guess your son who is unemployed might qualify but your son who works but doesn't pay rent won't - however if he paid rent he might! By the way co-habiting couples are assessed as married couples.
I don't agree - there is nothing embarrassing about entitlements, that's what we pay our taxes for - Irish people have to stop confusing entitlements with welfare. I am in a similar position ie. I work full-time and my partner has an up and down income - we have one child - it seems were are eligible so I have sent in the form along with a payslip, proof of mortgage and childcare costs - so fingerscrossed! Interesting what The Doc says though - I'll keep you posted. ps. There is a new TV ad campaign about the cards to encourage take.
With regard to the comment I made about people feeling embarrassed - I am not declaring there is anything wrong nor embarrassing with claiming what we are entitled to - just to set the record straight - I just know from people around me that a lot of people honestly believe it would mean they cannot keep up appearances. The problem in this country is that there aren\'t enough entitlements and if we are entitled to something we should claim it - look at the waste disposal charges for example - the government are pocketing a fortune from people not claiming against their Tax. Making people aware is such a huge area that the government need to involve themselves in - that is the same as a bank robber stealing from a bank. It is our money - don\'t be robbed.
I just rang the helpline and they weren't very helpful! I wanted to know what documentation you should supply if your spouse is self employed and income varies. They didn't know, I had to make the suggestion of an accountant's letter or self assessment letter from tax office for last year's returns. She agreed that that would suffice. I am still non the wiser.
Anon Posted: 27/06/2006 11:10 Co-habiting cuples are assessed the same way as married coupls.
im 19 live with my parents but have just been diagnosed with a long term illness in which i must pay regular visits a week to my GP. my medication costs alot too but i am aware that medications are not covered!! however i am still paying more than €100 a month on GP visits.... would I b entitled to it? im a full time student and parents are not receiving any childreen allowances for me as im 19....??
If my outgoings + basic dont go over the net income Do I not qualify for GP Visit Card???
Would I be entitled to a medical card/GP visit card as I am a full time carer to my mother. My husband is in full time employment but not earning a great wage and I have two children 7yr and 2yr. As I care full time for my mother we moved in with her and therefore do not pay rent. We contribute to all household expenses, etc. I just wonder would it be worth my while applying.
Im a student doing my leaving cert, im not working and living at home. am i entitled to a medical card/GP visit card???
Am an EU citizen have been working for the past three months and now I am pregnant. I want to know if am qualified for medical card?
Hi Beauty, working for 3 months and becoming pregnant does not entitle someone to a GP visit card. Altho' if you are in the public health system, then GP vists associated with your pregnancy are free of charge
Hi Rache, if someone has been made unemployed, they may be entitled to a GP visit card, but as you are a fulll time student, this would preclude you from seeking jon seekers allowance and therefore from seeking a GP visit card on the grounds of being unemployed. You mention that you are are doing your leaving cert and living a home tho which suggests that you are 17 or 18 and a dependant so if your parents are unemployed they may be able to apply for a GP visit card on your behalf