At Clondalkin Family Practice, we regularly see private patients that are most likely eligible for a Doctor Visit Card from the HSE but have never applied. A Doctor Visit Card is like a medical card and entitles you to see the GP for free. You may also be eligible for additional health screening or chronic disease management visits free of charge. Unlike a medical card, you would still need to pay for your medications.

Some people can be unsure about whether or not they are eligible for a DVC and the way the HSE calculates whether or not you are eligible is not entirely straightforward. The HSE recently relaxed the criteria for getting a DVC by lowering the income threshold but many people who are eligible have not yet applied.

How do they calculate if I / we are eligible?

The calculation involves taking three things into consideration:

- Whether you are single or in a family

- If you have dependents

- What allowable expenses do you have

From the above details, they calculate your Weekly Qualifying Financial Threshold (WQFT) and if your income is less than this, then you / your family qualify

All people under 8 and over 70 are eligible for a DVC, regardless of their or their family's income

What expenses can be taken into account?

Expenses such as the following should be noted on the application and will increase your WQFT and increase the chance of you getting a DVC

- rent payments

- mortgage payments

- childcare costs

- travel to work costs

- maintenance payments

- net cost of private nursing home care

- mortgage protection payment

- life assurance for mortgage protection

How do I apply?

You will need the following information: marital status, number of children dependent on you, PPS number, date of birth and income / expenses details. You don't need to submit any documents with the application but they can potentially ask for them later. You then visit www.mymedicalcard.ie and you can log in and enter your details. If asked for the details of the doctor you wish the card to be with, you can choose Dr Kevin O'Brien (GMS no 53656), Dr Irina Berkun (GMS 53033) or Dr Romaine King (GMS 54979) - it doesn't matter which of us you choose.

The following example might make it clearer: 

Married Couple with 2 Children:

Barry and Mary have 2 children under the age of 16. Their combined monthly income after tax is €5,450. Their expenses include:

- mortgage payment of €1,200 a month

- mortgage protection of €52 per month

- childcare costs of €1472 per month

Basic rate allowance €607

This is the fixed amount for married couple and single parent families age 69 and under with 2 dependant children under 16.

Dependants allowance €114

This is based on a rate of €57 for each dependant child under 16.

Weekly mortgage payment €276.92

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly mortgage payment (€1,200) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

Weekly mortgage protection cost €12

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly payment (€52) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

Weekly travel to work costs €14.40 for Mary, €28 for Patrick

Calculated based on petrol usage for Mary to go to work and weekly Leap Card fare for Patrick to get to work.

Weekly childcare costs €213.69

This was calculated by multiplying their monthly payment (€1472) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly).

This gave a weekly childcare cost of €339.69.

But they also receive €126 a week towards their childcare costs through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). This amount is deducted to give them a weekly expense of €213.69

Qualifying financial threshold €1,266.01

This total is their qualifying financial threshold. It was calculated by adding up their basic rate, allowances for dependants and their various allowable weekly expenses. Qualifying financial threshold means that if the couple has combined weekly net income of €1,266.01 or less, the family will qualify for a GP visit card. Net income is your weekly income (earnings) once tax, PRSI and USC have been deducted.

Decision

Barry, Mary and their children qualify for a GP visit card. Their net weekly income is €1,257.69. This was calculated by multiplying their monthly income (€5,450) by 12 (to get yearly figure) and dividing by 52 (to get weekly). Their net income (€1,257.69) is less than their qualifying financial threshold (€1,266.01). This means that they qualify.

Where can I read more about Doctor Visit Cards?

This HSE Website gives further details about how to apply, how savings are taken into consideration etc.