How your medical card works!

Here we will go through all the ways you can use your medical card to get the help you need if, and when, you need it.

What it covers

If you have a medical card you don't have to pay to see your GP (doctor) or for most medicines they prescribe.

A medical card also covers:

• public out-patient and in-patient services

• eye and ear tests

• dental checks

How it helps the price of prescriptions

If you have a medical card, you can get prescription medicines for a nominal fee.

If you are under the age of 70 years, there is a prescription charge of €1.50 for each item. This is up to a maximum of €15 per month, for each person or family.

If you are over 70 years of age, there is a prescription charge of €1 for each item. This is up to a maximum of €10 per month, for each person or family.

Individual pharmacies do not have the facility to co-operate with fees paid in other pharmacies but refunds for charges over the monthly limit can be claimed annually from the HSE.

Example:

John gets sick on a Sunday when his normal pharmacy is closed so he visits his local out of hours doctor and gets a prescription for antibiotics, steroids, a cough bottle and some paracetamol. He then brings this prescription to Kickham Pharmacy and pays €6  at €1.50 each even though the value of the medicines privately could range from €30 to €80 - The HSE pay the difference through the medical card.

John collects his regular prescription at his normal pharmacy. John is 65 and has a medical card so he pays €10.50 for his 7 tablets. Even though the monthly limit John should pay is €15, he knows that individual pharmacies consider his medical card separately but that he can claim back any overpayments at the end of the year.

What the medical card does not cover

The medical card helps thousands of people get access to medical care but there are a few limitations to what the HSE will pay for on the medical card. Below are just a few examples:

• Unlicensed Medicines are medicines which are not approved for use in Ireland but might be prescribed to meet the specific needs of a patient. These medicines are usually available in other markets outside Ireland and brought here to meet the needs of patients but because they do not have Irish approval they will not be covered by the medical card.

• Multiple Months. The medical card can only be used for one month's supply of medication at a time.

• 'Private' Prescriptions,i.e. prescriptions coming from a private doctor or consultant not covered by the medical card, are not covered on the medical card. Only prescriptions from a GP or a public hospital are covered on your medical card

• Over The Counter Medicines (OTC) are not covered. These include medicines for sale in a pharmacy which you choose to buy yourself. Only medicines prescribed to you can be covered.