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Medical Card and GP Visit Card: Checklist
Name: [Your name]. One application is assessed for both cards. The income worksheet is on the next page.
1. What you need
☐ PPS numbers and dates of birth for you, your partner and your dependants.
☐ Income: a payslip for each job, from the last 3 months. Pensions: a payslip or myAccount details, from the last 12 months.
☐ Self-employed: all pages of your latest Notice of Assessment, with your Revenue number.
☐ Savings: statements, certificates of interest, share certificates.
☐ Expenses: rent or mortgage proof, a signed childcare letter, your work address and kilometres a week.
☐ A GP who accepts you as a patient.
2. The form
– Form MC1 (July 2026). Aged 70 or over: Form MC1(a).
– Your doctor completes and stamps Part 7 of the paper form.
3. Your application
– Under 70, the HSE counts income after tax, PRSI and USC. From 70, it counts gross income: up to €550 a week for one person, €1,050 for a couple.
– If all your income is from social welfare, you get a Medical Card even above the limit.
– From 70, the form gives a GP Visit Card without an income test.
4. Where to file
– Online at mymedicalcard.ie, which the HSE calls the quickest way.
– By post: Eligibility Unit, PO Box 11745, Dublin 11. Email: PCRS.applications@hse.ie. Phone: 0818 224478.
– Send copies. Originals are not returned.
5. Time limits
– Reply: 15 working days once the application is complete.
– New information: ask for a reassessment within three weeks of the letter. Do this first if you can, because an appeal at the same time delays the decision.
– Appeal: 28 days from the date of the decision letter, to the HSE National Appeals Service.
6. Keep it and renew
– Keep your reference number and copies, and note the “Valid to” date on your card.
– Over the limit with high medical costs: you can ask about a discretionary card.
Reference no. [Reference no.]
Sent on [Sent on]
Reply on [Reply on]
Valid to [Valid to]
Income worksheet, under 70
Euro a week. This is a guide for your own check: the HSE makes the decision. Turn a monthly amount into a weekly one: × 12 ÷ 52.
A. What counts as income
Line Amount
Your income after tax, PRSI and USC [Net you]
Partner’s income after tax, PRSI and USC [Net partner]
Weekly amount for savings and other property (see below) [Savings]
Total A [Total A]
B. Your limit
Line Amount
Basic rate (table below) [Basic]
Amount for children [Children]
Rent, less HAP [Rent]
Mortgage, less tax relief; mortgage protection and home insurance [Mortgage]
Childcare, less National Childcare Scheme [Childcare]
Travel to work: public transport, or 18c a km by car [Travel]
Maintenance paid; nursing home or home care, less HSE contribution [Other]
Total B [Total B]
If Total A is not above Total B, you may qualify. If you do not qualify for a Medical Card, the HSE automatically assesses you for a GP Visit Card.
Weekly rates from 1 April 2026
The HSE publishes these in its National Assessment Guidelines.
Who Medical Card GP Visit Card
Single, living alone, under 66 €184.00 €418.00
Single, living alone, 66–69 €201.50 €418.00
Single, with family, under 66 €164.00 €373.00
Single, with family, 66–69 €173.50 €373.00
Couple, or one parent with children, under 66 €266.50 €607.00
Couple, or one parent with children, 66–69 €298.00 €607.00
Child under 16: first two, each €38.00 €57.00
Child under 16: third on, each €41.00 €61.50
Child over 16: first two, each €39.00 €58.50
Child over 16: third on, each €42.50 €64.00
Over 16, full-time third level, no grant €78.00 €117.00
Savings and other property: the first €36,000 (couple €72,000) is not counted. Next €10,000: €1 a week per €1,000. Next €10,000: €2. Above that: €4.
Not counted, for example: Child Benefit, Fuel Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Working Family Payment, SUSI grant. Form MC1 counts childcare when you and any partner both work; the Guidelines also cover study and training.
Source: HSE National Assessment Guidelines, in force 1 April 2026; Forms MC1 and MC1(a), July 2026; Health Act 1970, ss.45, 45A; HSE web pages. Checked 01.11.2026. 2027 rates not confirmed. Not financial or legal advice.