Medical Card & GP Visit Card: What Is Covered
Not sure whether your visit is covered? Just ask at reception when you book — we will tell you before your appointment whether a fee applies. Coverage is set by the HSE and the Department of Health, not by the practice.
The Medical Card (GMS) and the GP Visit Card are HSE schemes that pay for a defined set of GP services. Anything outside that agreement — including several of our specialist clinics, medicals and reports — is a private service with a fee. This page explains the difference between the two cards, who qualifies, and exactly what is and is not covered at Salutem Clinic.
The two cards at a glance
| Medical Card (GMS) | GP Visit Card (Doctor Visit Card) | |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultations | Free | Free |
| Prescribed medicines | Covered — a small prescription charge per item applies, capped each month per family | Not covered — you pay for medicines (the Drugs Payment Scheme caps monthly costs) |
| Public hospital services | Free public in-patient and out-patient care | Not covered by the card |
| Chronic Disease Management programme | Yes — free structured reviews for eligible conditions | Yes — free structured reviews for eligible conditions |
| Other services | Some dental, optical and hearing services; community and maternity services | — |
| Out-of-hours (SouthDoc) | Covered | Covered |
Who is eligible?
Medical Card
- Means-tested on your household income after allowances for rent or mortgage, childcare and travel to work
- Different income limits apply for people under and over 70
- A discretionary card may be granted where medical costs cause undue hardship, even if income is above the limit
GP Visit Card
- All children under 8 — not means-tested
- Everyone aged 70 and over — not means-tested
- People receiving Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit
- Everyone else: means-tested, with higher income limits than the Medical Card — many working households now qualify
Income limits change from time to time, so please check the current figures and apply online through the HSE:
- HSE — Medical cards: who can apply and how
- HSE — GP visit cards: who can apply and how
- Citizens Information — Medical cards · GP visit cards
Once your card is issued, please register with us (or tell reception) so Salutem Clinic is listed as your GP.
What your card covers at Salutem Clinic
- GP consultations for illness or injury — in person, or by phone where appropriate
- Same-day urgent care appointments
- Home visits where medically necessary
- Investigation of illness, including blood tests your GP orders as part of diagnosing or managing a medical condition
- Repeat prescriptions for ongoing medical conditions
- Referrals to hospital and specialist services
- Chronic Disease Management — free structured reviews if you have an eligible condition (for example asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart disease or stroke)
- Contraception consultations and fitting for Medical Card holders (and free for everyone aged 17–35 under the HSE Free Contraception Scheme)
- Out-of-hours care through SouthDoc
Free for everyone, with or without a card
- Childhood immunisation programme
- Maternity & Infant Care Scheme antenatal and postnatal visits
- Cervical screening (CervicalCheck, ages 25–65)
- Free contraception for ages 17–35, including Mirena and Implanon fitting
- Flu and COVID-19 vaccines for HSE-eligible groups
What is not covered
The HSE–GP agreement does not cover a number of services that many practices provide. The Irish Medical Organisation publishes the standard list on its Notice to Patients with Medical/GP Visit Cards (PDF). At Salutem Clinic the following are private services with a fee, for all patients including card holders. All fees are listed on our fees page.
Our specialist clinics
| Clinic | What is charged | What is still free |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Clinic | Travel consultations and all travel vaccines (Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Rabies, Tdap booster, malaria advice and more) | — |
| Acne & Roaccutane Clinic | First and review acne consultations; nurse monitoring bloods | Your prescribed medicines, if you hold a Medical Card |
| Weight Management Clinic | Consultations, reviews and blood tests | — |
| Menopause & HRT Clinic | Consultations, reviews and blood tests | HRT medicines are free for everyone under the HSE HRT scheme |
| Psychotherapy & Counselling | Therapy sessions (private service) | Your GP can still refer you to HSE mental health and counselling services |
| Podiatry (Lourde Twohig) | Podiatry appointments (private service) | — |
Medicals, reports and certificates
- Driving licence medicals and other fitness-to-drive examinations
- Pre-employment, insurance and sports medicals and reports
- Medical examinations and reports for legal purposes
- Passport and identity reports; crèche, school and college certificates
- Letters and certificates in support of social welfare, housing or utilities applications
- Medical certificates and sick notes not connected to a consultation
Procedures and other services
- Minor surgery and suturing
- Dressings and wound care not connected to a GP consultation
- Routine blood tests (phlebotomy) requested by a hospital, consultant or third party, or for monitoring private treatment
- Warfarin (INR) monitoring where not part of a HSE programme
- Preventative health checks and screening outside HSE programmes (for example well-person checks, in-clinic STI screening, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring on request)
- Vaccines outside HSE-eligible groups (for example flu vaccine if you are not in an eligible group, shingles vaccine, travel vaccines)
- Missed appointments
Why do GPs charge for these? The State pays GPs only for the services in the HSE agreement. The IMO notice explains that practices may provide additional services and that patients should check with practice staff about availability and arrangements. If you are unsure, ask before your appointment — we would rather tell you in advance.
Useful links
- IMO — Notice to Patients with Medical/GP Visit Cards (PDF)
- HSE — Medical cards · HSE — GP visit cards
- HSE — Drugs Payment Scheme
- Salutem Clinic fees · Register as a patient
Questions about your card or a fee? Call reception and we will check what applies to you before you book.
Book online Call +353 21 735 5499