Expansion of GP Visit Card Eligibility Welcomes 215,000 More Recipients in the Final Stage of Scheme’s Yearly Enhancement
In the latest development of Ireland’s healthcare initiatives, an additional 215,000 individuals are set to qualify for a GP visit card, marking the culmination of the third expansion phase this year. The scheme, which has already granted free GP care to approximately 500,000 people, recently included 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 in August, along with income threshold adjustments in September, expanding eligibility for another 215,000 individuals.
The online application process, emphasising factors such as household expenses and income, has been encouraged to streamline the application for this valuable benefit. The move is anticipated to save recipients around €70 per GP visit and for out-of-hours urgent GP care. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly highlighted the significance of this expansion in the context of the current cost of living crisis, aiming to eliminate financial barriers to healthcare.
Minister Donnelly revealed that with the completion of this final phase, nearly 850,000 individuals, encompassing all children up to their 8th birthday and those over 70, are now eligible for free GP care. For individuals aged 8 to 69, GP visit cards remain subject to means testing, with an increase in the financial threshold for various household compositions. The qualifying income threshold adjustments in this phase further address the financial needs of single individuals, those living with family, and couples or one-parent families.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has introduced a simplified online application process accessible at hse.ie/GPVisitCards, facilitating a smoother and more accessible application experience for potential beneficiaries.
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