This page uses short sentences and pictures.
A medical card lets you get some health services for free.
Usually your partner and children can get the same free services too.
You must live in Ireland and plan to stay for at least one year.
Your income is checked. It must be below a set amount for your family size.
Savings and property count too. Your own home does not count.
If your income is over the limit, you may still get one. This is if you would face financial hardship without it.
A child who gets Domiciliary Care Allowance can get a medical card with no means test.
If you do not get a medical card, you may get a GP visit card.
Apply online on mymedicalcard.ie. This is the quickest way.
Or fill in the paper form called MC1.
If you have questions, phone 0818 22 44 78.
The HSE aims to decide within 15 working days. Forms with missing parts take longer.
If you are refused, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed.
Every sentence on this page is checked against the official page every night: www.citizensinformation.ie, www2.hse.ie.