The Drug Payment Scheme — never pay more than €80 a month for medicines

Here's one of the most useful — and least claimed — schemes in Ireland: no household should pay more than €80 a month for prescribed medicines. Anything above that, the State pays. There's no means test — any income qualifies. It's the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), applying takes minutes, and if you don't have the card you're very possibly overpaying at the pharmacy right now.

How does the Drug Payment Scheme work?

You show your DPS card at the pharmacy; once your household's prescription spend hits €80 in a calendar month, everything further that month is free.

The cap is per family, not per person — you, your spouse or partner, and children under 18 (or under 23 in full-time education) all count together. For anyone on regular medication, it's worth hundreds a year.

Who can get a DPS card?

Anyone ordinarily living in Ireland who doesn't have a medical card — there is no income test at all.

The only real conditions: you live in Ireland (and intend to for at least a year), and you don't hold a medical card (medical card holders already pay less per item, so the schemes don't combine).

How do I apply?

Online at hse.ie/dps with your PPS number and Eircode — or your pharmacist can help you apply on the spot.

You'll add your partner's details if you have one, so the whole household counts toward the one €80 cap. The card arrives in the post; many pharmacies will honour the scheme from your first prescription while it's processing.

I spent over €80 — can I get money back?

Yes — if using more than one pharmacy in a month pushed you over the cap, you can claim a refund of everything above €80.

Print the refund form (or get one at your local primary care centre), post it in, and track it at drugspayment.ie. Tip: sticking to one pharmacy avoids the problem entirely, because the cap applies automatically at the till.

What else should I check alongside it?

Two things: whether you actually qualify for a medical card or GP visit card, and the 20% tax relief on other medical expenses.

The DPS is the no-questions-asked backstop — but you may be entitled to more. Check the GP visit card (free GP visits, generous limits), the medical card, and don't forget 20% tax relief on medical expenses — including what you spend under the DPS cap.

General information, not financial or legal advice. Rules and amounts change — confirm the current details on the official source (Gov.ie, HSE.ie or Citizens Information) before you claim.