N. Ireland worker, medical card covers dentist?

DrPhilG

Hope this is the right place, although it's more a logistical issue than a dental one..

I work in N Ireland, but live in Donegal. I know that this entitles me to a medical card in the South, but does that also mean that I can avail of medical card covered dental treatment here?

Or is it not covered, since I don't get free dental care in the UK, just health care?

Plek Trum

You don't automatically qualify for a medical card based solely on geographical grounds. It is a means tested assessment.

I imagine the fact you are working, irrespective of North / South will mean you might not qualify for one.
Read up on the criteria: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/mc/focuson/aboutmedicalcards1.205700.shortcut.html

DrPhilG

Plek Trum wrote: »

You don't automatically qualify for a medical card based solely on geographical grounds. It is a means tested assessment.

I imagine the fact you are working, irrespective of North / South will mean you might not qualify for one.
Read up on the criteria: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/ATTACH mc/focuson/aboutmedicalcards1.205700.shortcut.html

My accountant disagrees with you!

I have always been told that if you live in Irelandvbut work in the UK, that you automatically qualify for an Irish medical card.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

If you pay tax in the UK you should be eilgable for NHS treatment?

DrPhilG

Angelique Yummy Literature wrote: »

If you pay tax in the UK you should be eilgable for NHS treatment?

I am, but NHS dentists are not free.

ardmacha

I am, but NHS dentists are not free.

They are substantially subsidised though, if you can find a denstist still in the NHS scheme.

Oral Surgeon

DrPhilG wrote: »

My accountant disagrees with you!

I have always been told that if you live in Irelandvbut work in the UK, that you automatically qualify for an Irish medical card.

Is this because you live in ireland but work in the uk or because you live in ireland and the irish government don't know you work in the uk???
I dont understand why it matters where you work, if you have an income etc, you should be means assessed like everyone else....

Filibuster

DrPhilG wrote: »

My accountant disagrees with you!

I have always been told that if you live in Irelandvbut work in the UK, that you automatically qualify for an Irish medical card.

If you can afford an accountant you probably won't qualify for a medical card. The income threshold is c. €36k and you have to be a certain age etc.

DrPhilG

Filibuster wrote: »

If you can afford an accountant you probably won't qualify for a medical card. The income threshold is c. €36k and you have to be a certain age etc.

That's a little judgemental isn't it?

I have an accountant because I have a small rental income in Ireland and need help to pay my taxes correctly.

I am 36 and earn less than €25k.

DrPhilG

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

Is this
I dont understand why it matters where you work, if you have an income etc, you should be means assessed like everyone else....

I'm not saying I understand it either, but it remains (I think) a fact. Call it a loophole or whatever.

It's the same as if someone from the Republic seeks medical treatment in the UK, they will be charged as they are not entitled to free NHS treatment. And if someone who is entitled to free health care on the NHS needs treatment in Ireland, they will still get it free.

The fact that you may be entitled to some free dental care is the part that could be called a loophole. But if it exists, I'll certainly take advantage of it.

augusta24

Filibuster wrote: »

If you can afford an accountant you probably won't qualify for a medical card. The income threshold is c. €36k and you have to be a certain age etc.

I thought you had to earn less than €184 a week to qualify for a medical card, hence why people on ye dole done just automatically qualify?

digzy

Filibuster wrote: »

If you can afford an accountant you probably won't qualify for a medical card. The income threshold is c. €36k and you have to be a certain age etc.

I've a guy who has a medical card that I treat. He's an accountant, drives a merc, Fianna Fáil town councillor and he has at least one commercial premises rented out!
Told me he got it due to 'asthma':p

Draw your own conclusions! I conclude I should use him instead of my dopey accountant!

As regards the 36k threshold, I'd assume it must be lower than that?

circadian

DrPhilG wrote: »

Hope this is the right place, although it's more a logistical issue than a dental one..

I work in N Ireland, but live in Donegal. I know that this entitles me to a medical card in the South, but does that also mean that I can avail of medical card covered dental treatment here?

Or is it not covered, since I don't get free dental care in the UK, just health care?

If you're near derry Mod edit no names dentist on the quay is NHS, usually taking people on and good quality.

I got a ton of work done for about 70 quid.

Mingetoad

Is it possible the accountant is thinking of free treatment under the European Health Insurance Card? The description of 'free medical treatment' seems to sound iike that.

DrPhilG

Mingetoad wrote: »

Is it possible the accountant is thinking of free treatment under the European Health Insurance Card? The description of 'free medical treatment' seems to sound iike that.

Right, finally got a chance to sit down at a PC and find some links.

Mods, I hope it's OK to post the link here to askaboutmoney?

http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?t=181331

If not, please remove the link and I'll quote the post;

User of another site wrote:

I live in Rep of Ireland and work in Northern Ireland so I qualify for a medical card under EU entitlement without a means test. So I called up about it using the number on the HSE website and they told me I still have to fill in all my financial details and that of my spouse even though he is not entitled to it. And even though I definitely do not qualify under means testing they still means test me anyway and then if I don't qualify under that then they grant me the card under EU entitlement.

To me this sounds crazy - a huge waste of my time and the person who has to process it at the other end. Has anyone else had experience of this? If I just mark it parts as 'not applicable' will I just get it returned to me? The amount of information they require is staggering - yet understandable if you are applying for means testing but when I am entitled to this anyway, why do I need to go to all this trouble???

Apologies for repeating myself, it just all makes me so angry!!!

Rascasse

DrPhilG wrote: »

Right, finally got a chance to sit down at a PC and find some links.

Mods, I hope it's OK to post the link here to askaboutmoney?

http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?t=181331

If not, please remove the link and I'll quote the post;

I think what they mean is they think they are eligible under the old E128 scheme (now EHIC) which would cover emergency treatment.

In reality I'm not so sure as it is meant to be used if you are visiting a member state, not resident in it. Anyway, it only covers emergency dental treatment and is certainly not a medical card.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I would check into what the medical card covers before expending too much effort. The dental services have been totally gutted in the recent years.

Big_G

As nonsensical as it sounds, you probably are entitled to a non-means tested medical card under EU regulations according to the HSE website. I'm pretty shocked about this. As Fitz said though, you'll probably be better off seeking NHS dental care as the medical card doesn't pay for much dentistry in the Republic.