Can I get a medical card in Ireland?
Yes if your income is under the HSE limit — a medical card gives free GP visits, prescribed drugs (subject to the prescription charge) and public hospital services. A GP visit card covers free GP visits only. For people aged 70+, the medical-card weekly gross income limits are €550 (single) and €1,050 (couple), and anyone 70+ automatically qualifies for a GP visit card regardless of income. Over-70s are assessed on gross income, while under-70s are assessed on net income with allowable expenses (rent/mortgage, childcare, travel-to-work) deducted. Children under 8 and adults 70+ get automatic GP visit cards. A discretionary medical card can be granted above the limit where medical costs would cause undue hardship. In short: yes within the income limits, with extra automatic cover for the very young and over-70s.
📋 The rules
- Medical card: free GP, drugs and hospital services
- GP visit card covers GP visits only
- Over-70s limits: €550 single / €1,050 couple (gross)
- Under-70s assessed on net income with expenses
- Under-8s and over-70s get automatic GP visit cards
🔓 Exceptions
- A discretionary card can be granted above the limit for hardship
- Over the limit? The HSE assesses you for a GP visit card (higher thresholds)
- Over-70 widow(er)s keep the couple's limit for 3 years
⚠️ Penalties & fines
This isn't an offence area, but note the charges: medical-card holders pay a prescription charge per item, capped monthly per household. The over-70 limits are €550 (single) and €1,050 (couple) gross per week, with savings disregards of €36,000 (single) / €72,000 (couple). If your income is over the medical-card limit, the HSE automatically assesses you for a GP visit card, whose thresholds are roughly 50% higher. A discretionary medical card can be granted where costs would cause undue hardship. Beware a myth: "everyone over 70 automatically gets a full medical card" is partly false — over-70s automatically get a GP visit card, but a full medical card is still means-tested against the €550/€1,050 weekly limits. To apply: complete the HSE medical-card application and include your income and allowable expenses.
📎 Official sources
- Citizens Information — medical card means test (over 70s) →
- Citizens Information — medical card →
- HSE — how much you can earn for a medical card →
❓ Frequently asked
Who can get a medical card?
A medical card is means-tested, so you qualify if your income is below the HSE limit for your circumstances. It gives free GP visits, prescribed medicines subject to the prescription charge, public hospital care and other services. Under-70s are assessed on net income with certain expenses allowed; over-70s are assessed on gross income against higher limits.
What are the over-70 income limits?
For people aged 70 or over, the weekly gross income limits for a full medical card are €550 for a single person and €1,050 for a couple in 2026. Savings of up to €36,000 for a single person, or €72,000 for a couple, are disregarded, with only interest above that assessed on a sliding scale.
What's the difference from a GP visit card?
A medical card gives free GP visits plus prescribed drugs, hospital and other health services. A GP visit card only covers free visits to your GP, not medicines or hospital charges. If your income is too high for a medical card, the HSE will assess you for a GP visit card, which has more generous income limits.
Do all over-70s get a medical card?
Not automatically. Everyone aged 70 or over automatically gets a GP visit card regardless of income, but a full medical card remains means-tested against the €550 single or €1,050 couple weekly gross limits. So a higher-income over-70 may have free GP visits but not the full medical card covering medicines and hospital services.
Can I get a card if I'm over the limit?
Possibly. The HSE can grant a discretionary medical card even if you're over the income limit, where it judges that your medical costs would cause undue financial hardship. If you don't qualify for a medical card, you'll automatically be assessed for a GP visit card, whose income thresholds are roughly 50% higher.
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