Minister for Health announces 215,000 people are newly eligible for free GP care from today
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly today announced the opening of applications for GP visit cards for up to 215,000 people who are newly eligible. This is the first of two phases which will provide free GP care to an estimated 430,000 people in Ireland on a means tested basis. It is part of the biggest expansion in eligibility for free GP care in the history of the state happening this year and covering up to 500,000 people.
Announcing the opening of applications, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said:
“I am delighted to confirm that the first of two expansions of the GP Visit Card scheme to people earning up to the median income is now live. This expansion of the GP Visit Card scheme is a significant milestone and will bring free GP care to approximately 215,000 people. Many people aged between 8 and 69 who currently see their GP care on a private basis may now be eligible for a means tested GP visit card. A simplified online application process is available from today on the HSE website. This expansion of the GP Visit Card scheme will help people to manage the cost of living challenges we face, and I encourage those who may be eligible to apply now.”
The expansion of free GP care to close to 500,000 people this year is supported by the landmark agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) signed in early July 2023 which put in place a series of financial supports for GPs. On 8 August 2023, free GP care was expanded to 78,000 children aged 6 and 7. From today, free GP care is expanded to 215,000 people aged between 8 and 69 on a means tested basis. From 13 November 2023, it will be expanded to 215,000 more people on a means tested basis.
People aged up to 69 and parents of children aged 8 and up can apply for a means tested GP visit card on the HSE website. The means test assessment considers a persons or family’s circumstances, income and expenses. As well as assessing various kinds of income, a means test assessment considers personal situation, including dependent children and living situation, plus expenses such as rent or mortgage and childcare costs.
This expansion will increase the qualifying financial threshold for a means tested GP visit card in two phases.
- The weekly income threshold for a single person living alone increased from €304 to €361 in the first phase and will increase to €418 in the second.
- The weekly income threshold for a single person living with family increased from €271 to €322 in the first phase and will increase to €373 in the second.
- The weekly income threshold for a couple without dependent(s), a couple with dependent(s) or a one parent family, increased from €441 to €524 in the first phase and will increase to €607 in the second.
Expanding GP care without charges to up to 430,000 people on a means tested basis is a large and challenging project. Its introduction has been phased to avoid logjams in the application and assessment process. The HSE have developed a simplified online application process for means tested GP visit cards which is now available on www.hse.ie/GPVisitCards.
Minister Donnelly said:
“We are making significant steps forward in making healthcare affordable for all. We abolished inpatient charges, first for children and then for everyone. We brought the maximum amount payable under the Drug Payment Scheme down to €80 per month. In January, we expanded the Free Contraception scheme to include 26 year olds and on 1 September we expanded it again so that now all 17 to 30 year olds are covered. In August, we expanded free GP care to all children aged 6 and 7 so that now all children under 8 are covered.
“We are increasing GP training places by over a third, so that we will have 350 places annually by 2024. We secured a landmark agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation which supports GPs to recruit and retain more staff. We are supporting the Irish College of General Practitioners successful non-EU GP Training Scheme which is bringing qualified doctors into front line care in Ireland now.
“I am delighted that we will be implementing this expansion with the agreement of the IMO. We collaborated successfully with general practice through the period of the Covid pandemic, when GPs displayed an extraordinary commitment to delivering patient care. I look forward to continuing our collaboration as we embark on this historic expansion of free GP care.
“The expansion of the GP Visit Card scheme in 2023 is a significant milestone as we bring free GP care to close to 500,000 people this year. I am committed to ensuring affordable access for people in Ireland who are facing the toughest economic challenges. Removing the cost barrier to visiting their GP gives them better access to health care and supports their health and wellbeing.”
ENDS
Note to Editors:
What does a means tested GP visit card cover?
- Free GP visits
- Out-of-hours urgent GP care
How can someone apply for a means tested GP visit card?
A new dedicated online application process for means tested GP visit cards is now live at hse.ie/GPVisitCards. This system will allow for the processing of the large volume of applications which is expected and will ensure eligible applicants receive their cards as efficiently as possible. Applications will be accessed and processed by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service.
What is this change in the GP Visit Card scheme thresholds?
From today, 11 September 2023, the amount someone can earn and still be eligible for a means tested GP visit card has been increased.
- The Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a single person living alone has increased from €304 to €361.
- The Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a single person living with family has increased from €271 to €322.
- The Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a couple with or without dependent(s) has increased from €441 to €524. For couple(s) with dependents a weekly allowance per dependent is added to the threshold.
- Similarly, the Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a one parent family has increased from €441 to €524 and a weekly allowance per dependent is added to the threshold.
These changes apply to adults and children aged 8 to 69. All children aged under 8 and people aged 70 and over are automatically eligible for a GP visit card.
How many people will be eligible for a means tested GP visit card following this expansion?
Under this expansion on 11 September 2023, an estimated 215,000 people, who would have accessed GP care on a private basis when needed, are now eligible for a means tested GP visit card.
Prior to this expansion there were an estimated 340,000 people eligible for a means tested GP visit card. 39% had applied for and been issued GP visit cards.
Following this expansion there will be an estimated 554,000 people in total eligible for a means tested GP visit card.
How does means testing for a GP visit card work?
A means test assessment considers individual personal and / or family circumstances, various kinds of income and some allowable expenses.
During a means test assessment, the income considered for the person (and their partner and / or family if relevant), includes:
- Social Welfare income
- Back to Employment or Education Scheme income
- Wages income
- Self-employed income
- Pension income
- Maintenance income
- Savings
- Investments
- Property (excluding family home)
- Any other income
During a means test assessment an allowance is added for dependents:
- €57.00 for first and second child aged under 16
- €61.50 for third and more children aged under 16
- €58.50 for first and second child aged 16 or over who are financially dependent
- €64.00 for third and more children aged 16 or over who are financially dependent
- €117.00 for all children aged 16 or over who are financially dependent, in third level education and not grant aided
During a means test assessment, the allowable expenses considered for the person (and their partner and / or family if relevant), includes:
- Rent or Mortgage
- Mortgage protection costs
- House insurance costs
- Childcare costs
- Travel to work costs
- Maintenance costs
- Nursing home costs
As part of the application for a means tested GP visit card, a person will need to provide:
- Personal details (and partner and / or family details if relevant)
- Relationship status
- Children or dependents’ information
- Residency in Ireland information
- GP details
- Declaration
- Consent
Each person or family’s individual circumstances, income and expenses are different so the means test result will be unique to each person or family. A selection of examples are attached which give an idea of thresholds for various groups of people and families.
Is there another expansion of the GP Visit Card scheme planned?
This expansion of free GP care is the second of three stages of the expansion in eligibility for GP care without charges under the GP Agreement 2023. In total, approximately 500,000 people will become eligible for GP visit cards this year, 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 and 430,000 people earning up to the median income. This expansion brings free GP care to 215,000 people earning up to the median income and it will be followed by the expansion to 215,000 more people on 13 November 2023. Following this second expansion:
- The Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a single person living alone will increase to €418.
- The Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a single person living with family will increase to €373.
- The Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a couple with or without dependent(s) will increase to €607. For a couple with dependents a weekly allowance per dependent is added to the threshold.
- Similarly, the Weekly Base Eligibility Threshold for a one parentfamily will increase to €607. A weekly allowance per dependent is added to the threshold.