Medical Card and GP Visit Card Assessments

26 June 2006

Example 1

Mary is a single parent with one dependent child. She earns €540 nett per week (ie Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions). She has the following outgoings - €100 per week child care expenses, €100 per week housing rent and €40 per week travel expenses to work.

This is how her application for a medical card will be assessed:

Medical Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 266.50 550.00
Dependent Children 38.00
Child Care Expenses 100.00
Housing Rent 100.00
Travel Costs 40.00
Total Guideline 544.50 Total Income 540.00

A Medical Card will be issued to mary

Example 2

Patrick and Ann are a married couple with six (6) children. They have assessable earnings (ie Gross less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) of €675 per week. They have the following outgoings - €100 per week towards house mortgage together with €70 per week travel to work costs.

Medical Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 266.50 675.00
Dependent Children 240.00
Mortgage 100.00
Travel Costs 70.00
Total Guideline 676.50 Total Income 675.00

A Medical Card will be issued to the family.

Example 3

John is a single person with no dependents and has a weekly assessable income (Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) of €320. He pays €100 per week in housing rent and €40 per week on travel expenses to work.

Medical Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 184.00 320.00
House Rent 100.00
Travel Costs 40.00
Total Guideline 324.00 Total Income 320.00

A Medical card will be issued to John

Example 4

David is a single parent with one dependent child attending college. He earns €700 nett per week (ie Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions). He has the following outgoings – €150 per week housing rent and €40 per week travel expenses to work.

Medical Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 266.50 700.00
Dependent Child 78.00
House Rent 150.00
Travel Costs 40.00
Total Guideline 534.50 Total Income 700.00

David is not eligible for a medical card but the Health Service Executive will assess him for a GP Visit Card.

This is how David’s application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:

GP Visit Card Guidelines
Oct 2005
Weekly Income
Basic 400.00 700.00
Dependent Child 117.00
House Rent 150.00
Travel Costs 50.00
Total Guideline 717.00 Total Income 700.00

A GP Visit Card will be issued to David, and his dependant child will also qualify in his/her own right for a GP Visit Card.

Example 5

Michael and Angela are a married couple with two dependent children. Their combined income is €1,100 nett per week (ie Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions). They have the following outgoings - €250 per week child care expenses, €300 per week house mortgage payments and €70 per week travel expenses to work.

This is how their application for a medical card will be assessed:

Medical Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 266.50 1,100.00
Dependent Children 76.00
Child Care Expenses 250.00
Mortgage 300.00
Travel Costs 70.00
Total Guideline 962.50 Total Income 1,100.00

The family is not eligible for a medical card but the Health Service Executive will assess them for a GP Visit Card.

This is how Michael and Angela’s application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:

GP Visit Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 400.00 1,100.00
Dependent Children 114.00
Child Care Expenses 250.00
Mortgage 300.00
Travel Costs 70.00
Total Guideline 1,134.00 Total Income 1,100.00

A GP Visit Card will be issued to the family.

Example 6

Aileen is a single person with no dependents and has a weekly assessable income (Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) of €410. She pays €100 per week in housing rent and €40 per week on travel expenses to work.

Medical Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 184.00 410.00
House Rent 100.00
Travel Costs 40.00
Total Guideline 324.00 Total Income 410.00

Aileen is not eligible for a medical card but the Health Service Executive will assess her for a GP Visit Card.

This is how Aileen’s application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:

GP Visit Card Guidelines
June 2006
Weekly Income
Basic 276.00 410.00
House Rent 100.00
Travel Costs 40.00
Total Guideline 416.00 Total Income 410.00

A GP Visit Card will be issued to Aileen.

Example 7

James is a single person with no dependents, aged 66 who has recently retired. He has a weekly assessable income (Gross Income less Income Tax and PRSI contributions) from his occupational pension of €286. He pays €40 per week in housing rent.

Medical Card Guidelines
Dec 2004 Oct 2005
Weekly Income
Basic 156.00 201.00 286.00
House Rent 17.00 40.00
Total Guideline 173.00 241.00 Total Income 286.00

At December 2004 James would not be eligible for a medical card

At October 2005, James would not be eligible for a medical card but would be assessed for a GP Visit Card.

This is how James’s application for a GP Visit card will be assessed:

GP Visit Card Guidelines
Oct 2005
Weekly Income
Basic 252.00 286.00
House Rent 40.00
Total Guideline 292.00 Total Income 286.00

At October 2005 a GP Visit Card would be issued to James.