Over 70 Years The Health Act 2008 introduced a new scheme of entitlement to medical cards for persons over 70 as of the start of 2009. The Act replaced Section 45 of the Health Act, which had provided for automatic entitlement to medical cards for persons aged 70 and over who are ordinarily residents in the State without regard to means. The means test differs […]
Medical Aids The HSE provides medical and surgical aids free of charge to Medical Card holders. This may include wheelchairs, crutches and similar appliances. They may also be dispensed as part of the hospital treatment. In other cases, the HSE may assist with the costs. Day centres provide activities such as recreation, sports and leisure facilities, and clinic facilities combining medical and vocational rehabilitation services. […]
Background The EU/IMF programme provides for the introduction of legislative changes to remove restrictions to trade and competition in sheltered sectors by the end of the 3rd quarter in 2011. This includes the elimination of restrictions on General Practitioners (GPs) wishing to obtain contracts to treat public patients under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. GMS contract and entry arrangements The contract between an individual […]
New Scheme 2012 The Government, on 27th May 2010, announced a comprehensive strategy and set of actions for the health insurance market. These actions included the development of a full, robust, new risk equalisation scheme to start in 2013. The Health Insurance Authority published a consultation paper on risk equalisation on 21 June 2010 and submitted a report to the Minister for Health in December […]
Key Definitions “apology”, in relation to an open disclosure of a patient safety incident, means an expression of sympathy or regret; A qualifying recipient”, in relation to a patient, means a person who is a parent, guardian, son or daughter, ) a spouse, or ) a civil partner of the patient, who is cohabiting with the patient whom the patient has nominated in writing to […]
EU Health Insurance Card The European Health Insurance Card allows the holder access to health services in other EU or EEA countries. It allows an EU/Irish resident to avail of public healthcare in other EU countries if he or she becomes ill or injured on a temporary stay. In the case of the United Kingdom, it is sufficient to show ordinary residence in Ireland. A […]
Medical Card General Medical Cards allow access to family doctor / GP services. The entitlement includes visits to the doctor from a choice of doctors who contracted the HSE in the person’s area, prescriptions, medicines, aids and appliances subject to a €2.50 prescription charge, certain dental, eye and ear health services, hospital care, including inpatient services in public wards in public hospitals and public consultant […]
Overview Community care services are public health services delivered by or on behalf of the HSE in the community. They may be provided by voluntary organizations with the support of the HSE. Generally, Medical Card holders are entitled to community care services free of charge. In some cases, non-Medical Card holders will also be entitled, in effect, to the service free of charge. The entitlement […]
Overview Children and dependants of persons with medical cards may qualify for the same services as the cardholder. In addition, a range of services is provided to all children free of charge. These services are part of the maternity and infant welfare health services, pre-school children and school health services. Vaccination and immunisation services are also provided free of charge. Entitlement to hospital services for […]
Medical Card Entitlement to health services is based primarily on residence and compliance with the means test. Unlike other states, there is no comprehensive social insurance payment system linked to health services. Any resident who satisfies the HSE that he is ordinarily is entitled to either full eligibility or limited eligibility for health services. Full eligibility is available to Medical Card holders. A limited eligibility […]
Risk Equalisation The Health Insurance (Amendment Act) 2007 provides that a risk equalisation scheme is to apply to registered health insurance providers and providers that have ceased to be registered providers. The former three-year exemption from risk equalisation for new entrants to the market is repealed, The Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions)Act 2009 followed the Supreme Court judgment that found the risk equalisation scheme to be […]
Register of Health Insurers The 1994 Act established a register of health insurance undertakings. It prohibited carrying on health insurance other than as a registered party. The 1994 Act prohibited non-community-rated health insurance contracts. It provided that registered undertakers must provide health insurance contracts on the same terms and without discrimination in a range of circumstances. In particular, the cover could not be varied by […]
Pre-VHI Private health insurance existed prior to the establishment of the VHI but was limited in scope. Some private medical insurance schemes run into financial difficulties. The Health Act 1953 established three groups of persons entitled to health services. Persons unable to provide health services for themselves and their dependents are entitled to access health services free of charge. A second group was entitled to […]