Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for public health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means.
Determining whether a person is "normally resident" is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. A person living in Ireland for at least one year is generally considered by the HSE to be 'ordinarily resident' and is entitled to either full eligibility or limited eligibility for health services. People who have not been resident in Ireland for at least one year must satisfy the HSE that it is their intention to remain for a minimum of one year in order to be eligible for health services.
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits and is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the health Service Executive (HSE) are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services to persons and themselves and their dependants without undue hardship. There is a provision for discretion to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship" where the income guidelines are exceeded.
Persons living in Ireland and receiving a social security payment from another European Union/European Economic Area country or Switzerland, and not liable to contribute to the Irish Social Welfare System and not in receipt of an Irish Social Welfare Payment, may be granted a medical card under the provisions of EU Regulations.
Persons with full eligibility (medical card holders) are entitled to a range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultants services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultants services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and maternity and infant care services. They are also entitled to prescribed drugs and medicines subject to a €2.50 charge per prescribed item (maximum charge of €25.00 per month). Other services such as allied health professional services may be available to medical card holders.
People with limited eligibility (non-medical card holders) are entitled, subject to certain charges, to all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services and out-patient pubic hospital services including consultants services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €75 per night, to a maximum of €750 in any twelve consecutive months. Attendance at accident and emergency departments is subject to a charge of €100 where the patient does not have a referral note from his/her doctor. This charge applies only to the first episode of care.
