Services covered by the medical card
🩺 GP visits — unlimited
All consultations with your registered GP, including home visits and out-of-hours emergency calls, are free. No charge for GP letters or referrals.
💊 Prescriptions — all approved medicines
All medicines on the HSE approved list are free. You pay nothing at the pharmacy. Some very specialised medications may not be on the approved list.
🏥 Public hospital care
Inpatient care, outpatient appointments, day procedures, A&E visits, and overnight stays in public hospitals are all free. Private hospitals are not covered.
🦷 Dental services
Basic dental care including examinations, extractions, and some restorations. More complex treatments like implants or orthodontics are not covered.
👁️ Optical services
Eye tests and a contribution towards the cost of glasses. Designer frames are not covered but basic frames are.
👂 Aural services
Hearing tests and basic hearing aids through the HSE aural service.
🤰 Maternity services
Antenatal visits, maternity hospital care, and postnatal checks — including GP maternity visits — are all covered.
🚑 Ambulance service
Emergency ambulance transport is free for medical card holders.
What is NOT covered
Private hospital care, cosmetic procedures, non-approved medicines, most orthodontic work, and specialist private consultations are not covered by the medical card.
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