GP visit medical cards available within weeks

Evelyn Ring

A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive (HSE) said there had been a good response to newspaper advertisements placed two weeks ago inviting people to apply for the GP visit card.

The Department of Health had placed the advertisements in advance of yesterday’s agreement by GPs to proposals by the Labour Relations Commission to end the dispute between doctors and health service employers over pay and other issues, including the introduction of the GP visit cards.

The commission’s recommendations, which have been already accepted by the Health Service Executive Employers Agency (HSEEA), will result in GPs getting special once-off payments worth 7 million for signing up to scheme. About 200,000 people are expected to qualify for the GP visit card.

Chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s (IMO) GP committee Dr Martin Daly said talks had already been taking place with the Department of Health and the HSEEA on a special contract for doctors treating patients with the new cards.

Dr Daly said the IMO was hopeful that the contract discussions could be concluded over the next two weeks. The contract negotiations dealt with technicalities and the IMO did not believe that they would be protracted, he said.

The agreement includes a complete review of doctors’ GMS contracts that would begin in September and is expected to be completed before the end of March 2006.

Eligibility for GP visit cards is means tested. The income guidelines, however, include allowances for those paying rent or a mortgage, childcare and/or incurring work related travel costs.

The same application form is used for both a GP visit card and a medical card and the HSE will also check if those applying may be entitled to a full medical card.

The HSE may also decide to issue a GP visit card to those who may exceed the income guideline if it is considered that financial hardship will result from medical costs.

Income thresholds for doctor-only medical cards include:

E171 for a single person aged up to 65 living with their family.

E192 for a single person aged up to 65 living alone.

E277.50 for a married couple aged up to 65.

Income thresholds are slightly increased for those aged between 66 and 69 years.

All persons aged 70 or over are entitled to a medical card regardless of their income. This medical card covers the applicant only.

The HSE said the new doctor-only medical card will mean that more individuals and families would become eligible for a medical card.