u6 gp visit card

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GP visit cards

What is a gp visit card, who can get a gp visit card, income limits for people aged under 70, how to apply for a gp visit card, more information on gp visit cards.

A GP visit card is a card that gives you free visits to a participating family doctor (GP). If you are not eligible for a medical card , you may be eligible for a GP visit card.

You can apply for a GP visit card online.

What does a GP visit card cover?

Your GP visit card covers the cost of visits to your GP and visits to GP out-of-hours services . You can read more about what services are available with the medical card and GP visit card.

What is not covered by the GP visit card?

The GP visit card does not cover hospital charges .

Prescribed drugs are not free but may be covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme .

You must be ordinarily resident in Ireland to apply for a GP visit card. This means that you are living in Ireland and intend to live here for at least one year.

You will qualify for a GP visit card with no means test if you are :

• Aged under 8 (see GP visit cards for children )

Aged over 70

• Getting Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance , at full or half-rate

If you are aged under 70, your income is assessed by the HSE to see whether you qualify for a GP visit card. See below for information about the HSE basic rates of income.

Your income is assessed by the HSE using the means test for people aged under 70 . However, the basic rates of income for the GP visit card are higher than the limits for the medical card.

Your weekly net income is compared to the HSE's weekly basic rate of income . This is your income after tax, PRSI and universal social charge (USC) have been deducted. There are extra allowances for children.

If your income is above the weekly basic rate you may still qualify for a GP visit card after you include allowable expenses such as childcare and rent (see ‘Allowable expenses’ below).

The weekly basic rates of income increased on 11 September 2023 and again on 13 November 2023. If you were not eligible in the past, you may be eligible now.

Allowable expenses

Some living expenses are allowable. This means they increase your weekly basic rate of income.

Allowable expenses include:

• Childcare costs
• Rent (not including any amounts paid by Housing Assistance Payment or Rent Supplement )
• Reasonable mortgage payments on your family home and other land or property.
• Mortgage protection insurance and associated life assurance.
• Home insurance.
• Maintenance payments you make.
• Nursing home, private nursing or home care costs for you or your spouse.
• The cost of public transport.
• Driving expenses if a car is required, at a rate of 30 cent per mile/18 cent per km. If a couple needs two cars to travel to work, a double allowance applies. The cost of parking can be taken into account.
• Reasonable contributions towards carpooling costs.

See examples of how you or your family’s income is calculated when you apply for a GP visit card.

Read the HSE National Assessment Guidelines for medical card and GP visit card (pdf) . You can also find a list of the documents you need to support your application.

Aged over 70 with dependants

If you are aged over 70, you are eligible for a GP visit card regardless of your income.

If you are over 70 and you have dependants who are aged under 70, for example, a spouse or partner your dependants may qualify for a GP visit card if your combined gross income is over €1050, but not greater than €1,400 a week.

If either of you are aged over 70, you will both qualify for a full medical card if your combined gross income is €1050 or less per week.

Finances over the qualifying financial threshold

When you apply for a GP visit card, the HSE will first assess your application for a medical card . If you don't qualify for a medical card, you will then be assessed for a GP visit card.

If your finances are over the qualifying financial threshold for a medical card or GP visit card, you may still qualify for a discretionary medical card if your medical expenses would cause you financial hardship without one.

If you want to apply for a discretionary medical card , you should also include information about your family’s medical expenses in your application.

Aged under 70

If you are under 70, you use the same application process to apply for a GP visit card as for a medical card . So, as part of the application process for the GP visit card, your entitlement to a medical card is automatically assessed.

You can apply for a medical card or GP visit card online on medicalcard.ie

You can also download an application form for the GP visit card and medical card (pdf) and email it to [email protected] or post it to:

National Medical Card Unit,

PO Box 11745,

If you are aged 70 or over, you can register for your GP visit card online .

You can also download the registration form for people aged 70 and over (pdf) and email it to [email protected] or post it to:

GP Visit Card Over 70s,

PO Box 12629,

You can also call 0818 22 44 78 to ask for a paper registration form.

Application for a spouse or partner

If you are over 70, with a dependant spouse or partner who is under 70, and you think your finances may be under the qualifying financial threshold, you can apply for GP visit cards for both of you. To do this, you use the standard medical card/GP visit card application form (pdf) and include details of your income and allowable expenses. (For the HSE weekly basic income rates, see ‘Dependants of people aged over 70’ above).

Applying if you are a carer

If you get Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance, at full or half-rate, you are eligible for a GP visit card. You can register for the GP visit card for carers by email or post .

Appealing your GP visit card application

If your application for a GP visit card is refused, you will receive a letter from the HSE to let you know. The letter will also set out the reasons why your application has been refused.

If you are not satisfied with the decision, you may have it reviewed. Your circumstances may have changed, or you may have left out some relevant information from the original application.

If you are not satisfied with the review, you can make an appeal to the Appeals Office of your HSE Area . You can also find the contact details for the Appeals Office in the letter of refusal from the HSE.

The Appeals Office will conduct a reassessment of your application. This will be conducted by HSE staff who were not involved in deciding on your original application.

Your entitlement to a GP visit card is reviewed periodically by the HSE. This is because your circumstances may change. If you don’t return your review form, your GP visit card may not be re-issued.

If you return your review form by the given date but the review process continues past the expiry date of your card, the HSE may extend your card’s validity so that you can continue to use it while the review is taking place. The extension is on a month-by-month basis, so it is advisable to contact the HSE Client Registration Unit (contact details below) to confirm that your card has been extended and continues to be valid.

Check the status of your application for a GP visit card on the HSE website . You will need the reference number from your application.

You can check if your GP visit card is still valid on the HSE website.

Contact Lo-call 0818 22 44 78 or your Local Health Office for more information on GP visit cards. You can also contact the Client Registration Unit.

Client Registration Unit

4th Floor HSE PCRS Finglas Dublin 11

Related documents

• Services for medical card and GP visit card holders Family doctors (GPs) provide certain services to medical card and GP visit card holders free of charge. 3230.6917
• GP visit cards for children under 8 Children under 8 are entitled to free visits to participating GPs. Find out how to register for the GP visit card for children. 2979.147
• Under 70s means test for medical card and GP visit card How your income is assessed for the medical card and GP visit card if you are under 70 years of age. 2752.5369

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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• The PPS number of the child or children you wish to register. What's a PPS Number?
• If you do not have a PPS number and your baby is under four months of age, you can register by leaving the PPS number blank. If you leave the PPS number blank, the HSE will write to you separately to acquire the PPS number.
• The PPS number of the child's parent or guardian.
• Your email address.

What you need to know about the free GP Visit Card for children under-6

• Free GP visits
• Assessments at age 2 and 5
• Care for children with asthma.
• They have not signed up to provide services for children under the age of six
• They are not accepting any further registrations
• Their application is still being processed
• The PPS number of the child you’re registering.
• The PPS number of their parent or guardian.
• Your email address.

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Under 6s GP Visit Card Registration Form

Click on the button below to download the file.

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Information on GP medical card for under 6’s

With the GP Visit Card Under 6s your child will get free GP visits, assessments at age 2 and 5 and care for children with asthma from July 1st 2015.

How can I get this new service? Medical Card Holders – If your child or children have a Medical Card or GP Visit Card they will automatically be registered for this new scheme. Non-Medical Card Holders – If your child or children does not have a Medical Card or GP Visit Card you must register them for this new scheme.

Register online Check the list of GPs taking part

This list will be updated daily

What information do I need to register? – Your Child or Children’s PPS number – Your PPS number and contact details – Select your GP of choice

Where can I get details of my child’s Personal Public Service (PPS) Number? When you register your child’s birth the Department of Social Protection writes to you with their PPS Number. If you do not have a PPS number for your child please contact the Client Identity Services, Department of Social Protection, Lo Call 1890 927 999 or email [email protected]

Why is a Parent’s or Guardian’s PPS Number needed? We need your PPS number to link children under 6 years with all family members who are in receipt of services under the Community Health Schemes.

Do I get a GP Visit Card for my child or children? Yes, once the registration of your child or children is complete a GP Visit Card for children under 6, will be posted, to the address provided, for each eligible child.

My child’s 6th birthday is in July 2015, should I still register my child? Yes. All children who have not reached their 6th birthday and who live in Ireland or who intend to live in Ireland for a year, are eligible for service under the GP Visit Card for children under 6 Scheme. If your child’s 6th birthday occurs in July 2015, you should register your child and he/she will be eligible for GP Visit Card for children under 6 until the end of July 2015

What happens if my children attend separate GPs? If a child or children attend separate GPs, you must complete a separate registration for each child and choose the GP of choice on each registration

Why is my GP of choice not listed? Your GP of choice may not be listed if they have not signed the Agreement to Provide Service to children under 6 years, or if they are not accepting any further registrations. You can pick another GP. Your GP’s application to join the Under 6s scheme, may be being processed. Contracts are updated on a daily basis as is the list of available GPs under the scheme.

Can I change details submitted during the online registration process? If you have completed a registration for your child or children using the online registration facility, you may login to your previously registered account, to update or add additional information. Alternatively, you can complete another registration form to update or add additional information to your record.

I have registered my child online – what happens next? Once you complete the registration process, details are sent to your GP of choice who must accept your child or children to his or her patient panel. Once the GP of choice has confirmed acceptance of the registration of your child or children, a GP Visit Card will be issued to all eligible children within a few days. If your GP is not accepting electronic registrations, you will be informed by email. Just print the attachment to the email and bring it to your GP for them to complete the GP Acceptance section.

Please return the completed form to: GP Visit Card for children under 6 PO Box 12629 Dublin 11

I have selected a GP of choice, is my child now covered under this scheme? Confirmation of acceptance of your child or children is needed from your GP of choice. Your child or children’s eligibility will not commence until you receive confirmation that your GP of choice has confirmed that they have accepted your child or children onto their panel.

What happens when my child turn 6 years? You will be notified by the National Medical Card Unit approximately three months before your child or children’s eligibility is due to expire. A ‘Valid To’ date is displayed on your child’s GP Visit Card.

I have submitted a Medical Card/GP Visit Card application; do I need to include my child under 6 on the application? When applying for a Medical Card/GP Visit Card you should include the details for all your children, including any under 6 years. This will enable the National Medical Card Unit to calculate the correct financial threshold appropriate to your family. Each member of your family will receive a Medical Card or GP Visit Card once the eligibility criteria are met. Should your Medical Card application be unsuccessful, your child or children who are under the age of 6 years will automatically get eligibility to a GP Visit Card.

What services are provided under the GP Visit Card for children under 6? With the GP Visit Card Under 6s your child will get free GP visits, assessments at age 2 and 5 and care for children with asthma.

What are the assessments at 2 and 5 years? The assessments at age 2 and 5 are age based preventive checks focused on health and wellbeing and prevention of disease. These assessments will involve the recording of age, gender, weight and height, and plotting on a centile chart and taking appropriate follow-up action, including where appropriate, provision of health promotion advice, brief intervention and support, or referral to specialist services. During the assessments the Medical Practitioner will provide advice on smoking cessation to parents or guardians where necessary.

What is an Asthma check? Children suffering with asthma deserve to have their asthma well managed so they can fully participate in physical activities and live a normal life. Asthma checks have been shown to improve control of asthma in children. Each asthma check details the severity of your child or children’s asthma and involves a review of medications including ensuring that your child is using inhalers correctly. Your GP will advise you on how to improve your child’s asthma, including advice on smoke free environment, flu vaccination to prevent influenza and education on what to do if your child’s condition is getting worse. A written plan, tailored to your child, will be given to you to help you manage your child’s asthma. Asthma checks have been shown to improve control of asthma in children.

How often does my child get an asthma check? Where there is a diagnosis of asthma on a child aged over 2 years, an initial asthma check will be carried out by your GP or Practice Nurse. A further check will be carried out within 3 months of the initial check and every year thereafter until your child or children are 6 years old.

Will I have to pay for medicines prescribed by my GP for my children under 6 years? The GP Visit Card for children under 6 does not cover the cost of medications prescribed by a GP or hospital charges. If your child has eligibility under the Long Term Illness Scheme , they will receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their long term illness, free of charge. If you don’t have a Medical Card you should apply for a Drugs Payment Scheme Card . Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, an individual or family will pay a maximum of €144 each month for their approved drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by them or their family, in that month. The monthly financial threshold is determined by the Minister for Health.

Will Home Visits by my GP be covered? Yes, home visits are covered. It will be a matter for the GP to exercise his/her judgement in each individual case in determining whether a home visit is warranted.

Will Out of Hours Urgent GP care will be provided? Yes, out of hours, urgent GP care service will be covered.

If you don’t want to apply online use the application form GP Visit Card Under 6 Application Form.pdf (size 1.4 MB) GP Visit Card Under 6 Application Form Irish.pdf (size 1.4 MB)

and return to GP Visit Card – Under 6s PO Box 12629 Dublin 11

If you have any queries local 1890 252 919

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HSE encourages people to apply for the GP visit Card online

HSE Press Release

Monday, 13 November 2023

The HSE is encouraging all those who may be eligible to apply online via  hse.ie/gpvisitcards  following the announcement by Minster for Health Stephen Donnelly TD.

Encouraging those eligible to apply for a card Shaun Flanagan, HSE Assistant National Director, Primary Care Reimbursement Service said:   “The HSE would encourage all those who think they may be eligible to apply. It’s important to remember that you could quality even if the amount of money you earn is high and if your expenses are also high. Your application will be means tested and you will be asked to self-declare your income and allowable outgoings.

“When you apply, you should have you PPSN number, income and expense details, marital status, DOB (date of birth) and details on any children dependent on you to make it easier for you. Remember the quickest and easiest way to apply for a GP visit card is  online .

“GP visit cards allow the holders to access GP care without charges. If you have a GP visit card, you don't have to pay to see your doctor, but you will have to pay for medicines and other services.”

People can apply for a GP visit card if they are age 8 to 69, live in the Republic of Ireland or plan to live here for at least a year, and will be income tested. This means we look at a person’s income, personal circumstances and expenses to see if they qualify.

The HSE operates random and targeted control processes to ensure that only those who qualify receive means tested GP visit cards. You may be asked to produce supporting documentation to process your application.

Social welfare Ireland: Free GP visit cards come online for 200,000 people today

Almost 850,000 people are now eligible for free GP care

• 12:55, 13 NOV 2023
• Updated 12:58, 13 NOV 2023

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An additional 215,000 people have become eligible for a GP visit card from today.

With this final phase of this year's expansion of the scheme, almost 850,000 people are now eligible for free GP care, including all children up to their 8th birthday and everyone over 70. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly encouraged people to fill in the online application for the benefit, which saves them around €70 per GP visit and out-of-hours urgent GP care.

He said: “You may think you do not qualify but the application process factors in household expenses such as mortgage or rent and childcare, along with income. With the increases in income threshold, now close to half of households in Ireland could be eligible for free GP care.”

Read more: Social welfare Ireland: Full list of bonus payments due in December and January

Read more: Social welfare Ireland: Date confirmed for Christmas Bonus 2023

GP visit cards for people aged between 8 and 69 are means-tested. This means the HSE look at their income, personal circumstances and expenses to see if you qualify. It's possible that you may qualify for a GP visit card even if the amount of money you earn is high. If your expenses are also high, you could still qualify.

The expansion of the scheme has increased the qualifying financial threshold for the following groups:

• the weekly income threshold for a single person living alone increased from €304 to €418
• the weekly income threshold for a single person living with family increased from €271 to €373
• the weekly income threshold for a couple without dependents increased from €441 to €607
• the weekly income threshold for a couple with dependent(s) also increased from €441 to €607, plus an allowance for dependents
• the weekly income threshold for a one parent family, increased from €441 to €607, plus an allowance for dependents

For more information, see the simplified online application process which is now available on HSE's official website .

The HSE has also published examples of people who qualify on their website.

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Patient registration form- private, all patients who do not hold a medical card .

If you wish to join our practice please click on the link below and complete the online form. All patients need to complete this form prior to attending the practice.

Patient Registration Form- U6, DVC or GMS

For all patients with valid medical card/gp visit card,  or u6 doctor visit card.

If you currently hold a medical card, GP visit card or under 6's GP visit card you need to complete both the registration form and Change of Doctor form below to complete your registration. Completing BOTH forms will make it easier for staff to arrange your care.

Useful Forms

Medical card application   online, medical card application form, under 6 gp visit card, maternity benefit form, disability allowance form, drug payment scheme application online.

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Westdoc Out of Hours Urgent GP Care

0818 360 000

If you need out of hours gp care:.

Phone  0818 360 000  you will get through to a call centre (please note at busier periods you may be on hold for a period).

All calls are recorded 

Your call is initially answered by a Call Handler who will ask a number of questions. Where possible please have the following information regarding the patient available: 

Telephone number  

Date of Birth

Patients Name

Patients Address

Patients Current Location

Phone number to be contacted on, if different from above

Patients Medical Card Number                

A brief description of the patients complaint

After you provide details to the Call Handler, you will be asked to hang-up and await a call back from the Nurse. The Call Handler should give you an indication of expected waiting time for the Nurse to call you back. Please keep the contact phone number free so the nurse can get through to you. If the patient’s condition deteriorates before receiving a call back, phone back on 0818 360 000 again. 

All urgent calls receive priority. The Telephone Triage Nurse is the first point of clinical contact the patient /caller has with the Westdoc service.

The Nurse returns calls in rotation, based on urgency. The Nurse asks a sequence of questions to obtain information to make an assessment and a clinically safe decision.

The Nurse may:

advise the patient /caller over the telephone, consulting the Doctor if needed.

advise the patient /caller to see their own GP, during surgery hours.

make an appointment for the patient / caller to receive a call-back from the Doctor for further telephone advice.

make an appointment for the patient / caller to receive a video consultation from the Doctor.

make an appointment for the patient to see the on duty Doctor, in a Westdoc treatment center.

make an appointment for the patient to receive a home visit from the Westdoc Doctor on duty.

direct the patient to the emergency department, arranging an ambulance, if necessary.

If offered an appointment for a Video Consultation appointment, you can watch the video below for details of what to expect.

Details of your contact with Westdoc are automatically forwarded to your own doctor. 

If you are given an appointment and you have a valid Medical Card, GP Visit Card or U6 GP Visit Card you must bring it with you or you may be charged

All patients are expected to be polite and courteous to all members of staff, doctors, nurses etc. Abusive language and behaviour is not acceptable. Patients who are consistently abusive or threatening to members of staff and/or doctors in the centres or on the phones may be prevented from using the service in the future.

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Lost or stolen medical card or GP visit card

Contact us to replace a lost or stolen medical card or GP visit card.

You will need to tell us your:

• GP's name

National Medical Card Unit, PO Box 11745, Dublin 11

Phone: 0818 22 44 78 or 01 864 7100 [email protected]

Page last reviewed: 20 January 2023