Services for Minors
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 children is on the same basis as for adults. Children who are admitted to hospital for treatment of matters discovered in a child or school health examination are generally exempt from public hospital charges.
Children
The cut-off age for children is generally 16 years of age. Persons over 16 years old who are students or financially dependent on parents are entitled to medical card services if their parents are entitled to medical card services.
Foster children have their own individual medical cards. These are independent of their parents’ cards.
Children under 18 years or up to 23 years and in full-time education are counted as part of the family for the purpose of the prescribed drugs and medicine scheme, which reimburses expenditure above a certain level on certain drugs. Children who are mentally or physically disabled so that they are not reasonably able to maintain themselves fully and are living at home also qualify.
Maternity and Infant Care
The maternity and infant care scheme provides care to expectant mothers who ordinarily reside in Ireland. The service is provided by GPs and hospital obstetricians.
This is a universal service and does not depend on having a medical card. It operates under agreements between doctors and hospitals, and the HSE. The medical services may be provided by an obstetrician and registered medical practitioner.
Generally, there are six to seven pre-natal visits to maternity hospitals/GP. There are at least two post-natal visits to GP at two weeks and six weeks.
Mothers are entitled to free in-patient and out-patient accident and emergency-related services in relation to pregnancy. There is an exemption from hospital charges.
The general practitioner who attends to the mother is to provide developmental examinations at two and six weeks. Outside of this, the child itself must have an entitlement through his or her parent’s card.
Health Screening
The HSE provides a school health service, including screening and immunisation programs. The services are provided to children attending public primary schools. They may, as discretion may be extended to private fee-paying primary schools.
Health screenings are conducted by a public health nurse and area medical officers provided by the HSE. They include hearing and vision examinations.
Problems arising identified at screenings are treated free of charge at the outpatient departments of hospitals. Subsequent treatment arising out of the initial referral is also free of charge as a public patient.
Immunisation
Immunisation services are provided free of charge at GP surgeries, health clinics, hospitals, and schools. There is a schedule of childcare immunization vaccinations, most of which are within the first 13 months. Further vaccines are given at 4 to 5  years and for  11 to 14 years for girls.
New Borns’ Development
Public health nurses are notified of all births in the area and generally visit within two days of discharge. Further visits may be undertaken as required. General and specific advice are given.
A developmental examination is given and offered at local health centres at approximately nine months. This covers all aspects of development and is offered free of charge. Problems identified may be treated free of charge at public hospitals as public patients.