Medical card holders up by 135,000

THE number of people with medical cards is estimated to have increased by almost 135,000 over the last 12 months with the rise in unemployment being a major contributory factor.

There has also been an increase in the numbers with the GP visit card, which allows people who don’t qualify for a medical card to see a doctor free of charge.

The increased numbers on both schemes will cost the state an additional €102 million this year, official projections indicate.