Press release
Government announces details of the commencement of the provision of GP Visit Cards to over 500,000 more people
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe have today announced details of the commencement of the provision of GP Visit Cards to over 500,000 more people - children aged 6 and 7 and to all of those earning no more than the median income, following agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO). GP Visit Cards permit the holders to access GP care without charges. This measure represents the largest expansion in access to GP care without charges in the history of the State.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly stated:
“I have long made clear my commitment to making healthcare affordable for all. Today marks a significant milestone as we provide those who can least afford to pay for access to care with the right to attend a GP at no cost. As I said at the time of the budget last October, this is a gamechanger for our health service. Ensuring that more people can afford to visit their GP gives access to healthcare in the right place - one of the central commitments in the Programme for Government. It also removes the burden on people who may defer GP visits because they simply cannot afford it.
“I am delighted that we will be implementing this expansion in care with the agreement of the IMO. We collaborated successfully with general practice particularly through the period of the COVID-19 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 access.
“Coupled with the large expansion of the GP training programme I announced recently, in conjunction with the Irish College of General Practitioners, we are building strong and resilient primary care services as we increase our General Practice workforce now while improving access to those services for those who most need them.”
Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe said:
“I welcome this new GP agreement which will reduce the cost of accessing vital general practice care for those in our society who often struggle to afford GP visits. It will also enable the delivery of a core government priority to expand access to medical care in line with Sláintecare. The significance of this milestone cannot be underestimated as it involves the largest expansion in eligibility for free GP care in the history of the State covering up to 500,000 people. This provides access GP care to all children aged 6 and 7 and to all of those earning no more than the median household income. It also represents another important support to people at a time of cost of living challenges.”
Minister Donnelly added:
“The government is committed to ensuring that cost is removed as a barrier to accessing healthcare. This expansion will allow up to half a million additional people to access GP care without charges. This is a landmark day on our journey towards providing universal healthcare for all our people.”
The agreement with the IMO will put in place a series of capacity supports to allow GPs to recruit additional staff, as well as increases in fees to take account of the likely increase in demand for services. The total financial package will amount to approximately €130 million in a full year.
Under the terms of the Agreement, applications for GP Visit Cards for all children aged 6 & 7 will open on 11 August 2023. Approximately 78,000 children who currently access GP care on a private basis will benefit from this measure.
The expansion of income limits for the general population to permit those earning no more than the median income will benefit up to 430,000 individuals.
The first phase of this income-based expansion will commence on 11 September 2023 and the second phase will commence on 13 November 2023.
The extension of GP Visit Cards to children aged 6 and 7 will commence on 11 August. The extension of cards to those who earn the median household income or less will commence on 11 September, and will be completed in two phases, 11 September and 13 November.
The government reached agreement with the IMO on these extensions last week. Implementing the expansions by agreement will make the process much smoother and allow the delivery of significant financial support to general practice to recruit the capacity necessary to meet additional demand.
In total, approximately 500,000 additional individuals are estimated to become eligible under this expansion, 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 and 430,000 individuals earning up to the median income.
As this is the largest expansion in eligibility for GP care without charges ever undertaken, it is necessary to phase its introduction to avoid the creation of logjams in the application process.
Applications for children aged 6 and 7 will open on 11 August 2023.
Applications for the first group under the median-income expansion will commence on 11 September 2023.
Applications for the full group under the median-income expansion will commence on 13 November 2023.
The weekly income threshold for a single person living alone will increase from €304 to €361 in the first phase, and then to €418 in the second.
The weekly income threshold for a single person living with family will increase from €271 to €322 in the first phase and to €373 in the second.
The weekly income threshold for a couple with or without dependent(s) will increase from €441 to €524 in the first phase and to €607 in the second. An allowed amount per dependent is added to the threshold for a couple with dependent(s).
Similarly, the weekly income threshold for a lone parent will increase from €441 to €524 in the first phase and to €607 in the second.
The income thresholds for those over 66 will, following the changes, be the same level as for those under 66 – the thresholds for those aged under 66 are currently lower than the thresholds for those aged over 66.
The eligibility criteria for over those over 70 will not change.
Applications for GP Visit Cards for children aged 6 and 7 will be processed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) PCRS in the same way as the current under 6 applications, via their online portal.
The HSE will also open a dedicated portal for those applying for GP Visit Cards on the basis of income. This system will allow the processing of the large volume of applications expected and ensure applicants receive their Cards in as timely a fashion as possible.
Applicants will make a declaration of their income and outgoings. The same expenses (housing costs, transportation) as are currently set against income in Medical or GP Visit Card applications will continue to apply. Where necessary, the HSE may seek additional information and copies of documents to support applications.
There will be an information campaign ahead of the opening of applications to provide further information to the public.
The Agreement with the IMO includes a total financial package amounting to €130 million.
The package is made up of:
The agreement also includes provision to permit the expansion of the Chronic Disease Management Programme to include hypertension and women who suffered from gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia.
The 2023 Agreement with the IMO provides a package worth €30 million specifically to support capacity in general practice.
It will permit GPs to retain staff and recruit additional staff to meet demand.
There will also be additional support of €2 million to support the GP Out of Hours services.
At the start of June the Minister for Health announced that General Practitioner (GP) training places were to increase by one third by 2024, and large expansion in the Non-EU GP Training Programme.
Number of GP Training Places to increase from an intake of 258 in 2022 to 350 in 2024 – a 35% increase.
The total number of trainees undertaking the four-year programme will increase from the current 932 to 1,300 in 2026 – a 45% increase.
Capacity on the Non-EU GP Training Scheme to increase from 50 to 250 by the end of 2024 – a 400% increase.
These examples are by way of illustration only. Everyone’s circumstances are different – the application process will take applicants through their own income and expenses to assess eligibility.
| Current | New | |
| Base threshold | 304 | 418 |
| Weekly rent | 300 | 300 |
| Allowable commuting cost | 50 | 50 |
| Net eligibility threshold | 654 | 768 |
Under the old threshold, this person could earn no more than €654 per week to be eligible. Under the new threshold, this person could earn up to €768 per week.
| Current | New | |
| Base threshold | 441 | 607 |
| Weekly mortgage | 300 | 300 |
| Allowance for 2 dependents | 114 | 114 |
| Net eligibility threshold | 755 | 1,021 |
Under the old threshold, this couple could have combined earnings of no more than €755 per week to be eligible. Under the new threshold, this couple could have combined earnings of up to €1,021.
| Current | New | |
| Base threshold | 441 | 607 |
| Weekly rent | 375 | 375 |
| Allowance for 2 dependents | 114 | 114 |
| Childcare | 200 | 200 |
| Net eligibility threshold | 1,130 | 1,296 |
Under the old threshold, this couple could have combined earnings of no more than €1,130 per week to be eligible. Under the new threshold, this couple could have combined earnings of up to €1,296.
| Current | New | |
| Base threshold | 441 | 607 |
| Weekly mortgage | 300 | 300 |
| Allowance for 0 dependents | 0 | 0 |
| Childcare | 0 | 0 |
| Net eligibility threshold | 741 | 907 |
Under the old threshold, this couple could have combined earnings of no more than €741 per week to be eligible. Under the new threshold, this couple could have combined earnings of up to €907.