Hundreds of thousands paying higher bills by not taking up medical cards

Among the benefits of having a medical card are free primary, community and hospital care. Stock image

Almost a third of individuals who are eligible for a medical card – about 400,000 people – are failing to take up their entitlement to access free GP services, medicines, hospital care and other benefits, according to new research.

A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found such individuals are also spending on average almost €700 extra a year on healthcare and health insurance than those who have a medical card.