A medical card, as issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE), confirms that the holder is entitled, free of charge, to a range of Health Services, including:
- A choice of General Medical Practitioner from those doctors who have a contract with the HSE; and
- The supply of prescribed approved medicines, aids and appliances, subject to prescription charges.
A GP visit card holder is also entitled to a choice of General Medical Practitioner, similar to a medical card holder but is not entitled to prescribed approved medicines free of charge.
GMS contract holders must provide prescriptions to their medical card patients on the relevant GMS prescription form in order for them to receive their medication free of charge, subject to any applicable prescription charges. GMS prescription forms are not available to non-GMS contract holders and, therefore, prescriptions written by General Medical Practitioners who do not hold a GMS contract are not reimbursable under the GMS scheme and are instead a private transaction matter between the patient and the pharmacist for which the relevant costs will apply.
The Drugs Payment Scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. Under the scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.