If someone you love has been given a terminal diagnosis, ask the consultant or hospital social worker about this today. The card covers GP visits, prescriptions and hospital care for free.
Quick facts
- Means test
- None
- Terminal illness
- 24 months or less; never expires
- Urgent ongoing care
- Temporary card for 6 months
- Who applies
- Your doctor, consultant or social worker
- Active
- Within 24 hours
- Card in post
- About 10 days
Who can get one
"An emergency medical card is a medical card you can get without a means test if you are in certain emergency situations." You qualify if you "Have a terminal illness and have been told you have 24 months or less to live or Are receiving end-of-life treatment, or Need urgent ongoing care and urgently need a medical card".
How it works
"Only a healthcare professional (for example, a doctor, consultant or social worker) can apply for an emergency medical card for you." For terminal illness the consultant just sends form MC1t; no medical report is needed.
"Your emergency medical card number will be active on the HSE system within 24 hours of your application being processed." You can use it before the card arrives.
How long it lasts
"If you have a terminal illness your emergency medical card will never be reviewed and it will not expire." The same applies in end-of-life care.
For urgent care: "You may be able to get a temporary medical card for 6 months if you need urgent ongoing care and need a medical card sooner than the normal processing time." Apply for a standard card before it ends; the HSE will remind you.
Common questions
Can you get a medical card without a means test in Ireland?
Yes, an emergency medical card, if you have a terminal illness with 24 months or less to live, are in end-of-life care, or urgently need ongoing care.
Who applies for an emergency medical card?
Only a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, consultant or social worker, can apply for you.
How fast is an emergency medical card?
The number is active on the HSE system within 24 hours of the application being processed.
Does an emergency medical card expire?
For terminal illness or end-of-life care, it is never reviewed and does not expire. For urgent ongoing care it lasts 6 months.