The legislation governing the award of medical cards does not mention the phrase medical cards. Instead, it describes people who have “full eligibility” for health services.
In effect, if you have a full medical card, you are fully eligible to avail of all publicly run health services in Ireland together with required drugs & medicines free of charge.*
Services covered:
- All inpatient treatment and maintenance in public hospitals.
- All outpatient services in public hospitals.
- All approved prescribed drugs and medicines *(subject to a prescription charge of €2.50 per item).
- All GP/family doctor services.
- Medical services for mothers and infants.
- Some dental, ophthalmic and aural services.
- Some community care services.
If your child is diagnosed with a serious illness or born with a serious congenital condition, the medical card is vital.
It is the ‘passport’ for health care in Ireland. It is, if you have it, the tool that will enable a family dealing with a serious diagnosis to put aside their worries about costs associated with healthcare and medication, and focus all efforts on the child.
These families are staring in to the unknown. Children born with a serious congenital condition are often faced with a life time of health complications and needs. Their uncertain future is further complicated by a medical card application process that fails to acknowledge the severity of the illness, the reality of the condition or even basic medical facts relating to both.