The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card holders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined primarily by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual’s eligibility status is the responsibility of the HSE.
Adults with full eligibility can access a range of services including GP 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 a maternity and infant care service. Persons with limited eligibility are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including Consultant services, Emergency Department or minor injury care, are subject to certain charges.
With regard to physiotherapy and other similar therapy services, there is no statutory obligation on the HSE to provide services to clients and, conversely, no legal obstacle to doing so. In practice, arrangements are generally made to provide these services to medical card holders and to persons with limited eligibility to the extent that resources allow.