Last Updated (Friday, 19 June 2009 09:13) Written by Administrator

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Medical Treatment, Drugs and Nappies
Medical Entitlements
Medical Cards
GP Visit Card
Long Term Illness Scheme
Dental, Optical, and Aural
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Medical Cards

Medical card holders (and generally their spouse and dependent children) are entitled to free GP (family doctor) services; prescribed drugs and medicines (with some exceptions); in-patient public hospital services; out-patient services; dental, optical and aural services; medical appliances are free of charge.

You are free to choose a GP from a panel of participating doctors. The GP you select must generally have his/her practice within seven miles of where you live. The GP must agree to accept you as a patient.

A student in receipt of Disability Allowance will generally be entitled to a medical card.

If you qualify for a medical card, you will be given a list of doctors and a Doctor's Acceptance Form. You pick a doctor from the list and ask the doctor to sign the Acceptance Form, which is then returned to the HSE. Your medical card will show your doctor's name. The doctor you choose must generally have his or her practice within seven miles of where you live. The doctor must agree to accept you as a patient. It could happen that a doctor would be unwilling to take you on, for example, if he or she already has too many patients, but this is not normally a problem.

Medical card holders are exempt from paying the Health Contribution. They may also be exempt from paying the school transport charges.