Budget 2013: Free GP visits for under 5's

Sleepy

Seems like they're going to go ahead with the free GP visits for under 5's in the budget. Just too late for us as the youngest has just turned 5 but should make things a little easier for many families!

vitani

If they manage to introduce it, it would be great. There's been a few times when my little one has seemed a little under the weather but I've dithered over bringing her to the GP because of the €55 fee.

Moonbeam

I think mine have been to the gp about 5/6 times between them,I bring them if they are sick but not for little things. I think that it is a brilliant start.

vandriver

Medical card guidelines to be "tightened" to pay for it though.

How Strange

Our gp isn't affiliated with hse for medical cards so I'm hoping he's not excluded from this scheme on that basis. He's a fantastic gp especially for children.

Xdancer

It's a great plan, but the problem is you'll have people abusing it. All our gp and pediatrician visits are covered by our social security here, and people bring their kids to the doctor for the slightest and unneceesary things.
My daughter's pediatrician was amazed that for the first year she only saw my lo for her developmental checks....obvious I still haven't gotten used to not paying for doctor appointments!

another question

Does anyone know if the cuts to social welfare for those under 26 applies to new entrants only or will it effect those already in the system as well?

Orion

another question wrote: »

Does anyone know if the cuts to social welfare for those under 26 applies to new entrants only or will it effect those already in the system as well?

This is the wrong forum for this but in answer it's only for new entrants.

another question

Orion wrote: »

This is the wrong forum for this but in answer it's only for new entrants.

Sorry, I didn't realise this was the parenting forum, my mistake, I just searched for Budget 2013 and this popped up. Thank you for answering though, that is a huge weight off my mind.

average_runner

vitani wrote: »

If they manage to introduce it, it would be great. There's been a few times when my little one has seemed a little under the weather but I've dithered over bringing her to the GP because of the €55 fee.

its not an excuse to bring them for "a little under the weather"

This could easily clog the surgery rooms up also.

Will still only bring my little ones when they need to go and not just for a cold or something

Rose35

I felt like I lived in the doctors during the first year of my little boys life, especially when he started creche, i am delighted with this announcement, very welcome indeed.

beertons

Rose35 wrote: »

I felt like I lived in the doctors during the first year of my little boys life, especially when he started creche, i am delighted with this announcement, very welcome indeed.

I know the feeling. We've had our second and have taken the first one out of crèche till February. In and out of the doctors the whole time with this and that. We were nearly living on beans and toast for the first 4 months of the year, every second week there was another trip to the doctors needed.

Mink

I think most parents will hopefully have enough common sense not to start bringing their kids for minor things that we wouldn't normally have brought them for - ie; colds, minor temp, cuts & bruises etc.

This will really help families that genuinely have a child that needs a lot of medical attention, gets sick a lot etc, needs to get referred for tests, prescriptions etc. They're the ones that really need it to take the pressure off financially.

How Strange

Thankfully our 2.5yr old hasn't been to the gp since January. It did feel like we were going at least once a month for the first 18 months after he joined crèche.

Xdancer

Mink wrote: »

I think most parents will hopefully have enough common sense not to start bringing their kids for minor things that we wouldn't normally have brought them for - ie; colds, minor temp, cuts & bruises etc.

I fear you may be giving people too much credit.....if it's free, it will be abused by some. You see it in any country where there are free gp visits.

vitani

average_runner wrote: »

its not an excuse to bring them for "a little under the weather"

This could easily clog the surgery rooms up also.

Will still only bring my little ones when they need to go and not just for a cold or something

I knew I'd phrased that badly. But if I'd gone with 'there's been a few times when my little one has been unwell', I'd probably have someone telling me that they can't believe I'd compromise my child's health over the sake of €50.

Look, I'm not someone who brings my child to the doctor at the first sign of a sniffle. But we all know what it's like when you have a child with a bug or something that might get better within a day or two, but you don't know for sure that it will. In those situations, I'd like cost to be removed as a factor when I'm deciding whether to bring her to the doctor or not.

How Strange

The problem with having your kids in crèche is that you sometimes need to bring them to the gp if you think they're coming down with something as you don't want them getting very sick in crèche and you have to organize time off work.

SCOOP 64

another question wrote: »

Does anyone know if the cuts to social welfare for those under 26 applies to new entrants only or will it effect those already in the system as well?

Disscusion going here all morning

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=87009544#post87009544

SCOOP 64

Sleepy wrote: »

Seems like they're going to go ahead with the free GP visits for under 5's in the budget. Just too late for us as the youngest has just turned 5 but should make things a little easier for many families!

Should be for all kids under 16, €55 per visit is ridiculous.

Moonbeam

The system already gets abused slightly anyway, people with medical cards and gp only cards can already go see their gp for free as can their kids .

SCOOP 64

I wonder how many arguments this causes family under pressure these days, the wife "his not well have to take him to doctors", husband "no, his grand, just give him some calpol !"

SurferRosa

That's great news, my eldest turned 5 this summer, but I have a one and a three year old also. They each see the doc about 1-2 times a year ( youngest has never been so far fingers crossed), but they seem to need to see the doc at the worst possible times financially,so this would be a great help!

liliq

Thankfully my 2 year old has only needed the gp once, but it is a little relief to know that simply not having €50/60 won't mean I can't bring him to the gp if I need to.

Sleepy

Sleepy wrote: »

Seems like they're going to go ahead with the free GP visits for under 5's in the budget. Just too late for us as the youngest has just turned 5 but should make things a little easier for many families!

My youngest niece will turn 5 in January and her older sister will turn 10 next year so its a pity for them but my sister is expecting again soon so at least if needs be, one of the siblings will benefit.

implausible

It's a good move, but I don't see why it has to be all or nothing in this country - €50 or everything is free. If they had a system like they have for prescriptions where you had to pay a nominal fee e.g. €2, it might stop people taking the piss out of it entirely. I would worry that this is going to make it really difficult to get an appointment now.

Moonbeam

I wouldn't mind a nominal fee either 10 euro or so would be perfect,60 is crazy.

pwurple

I like this. Hopefully if it works out and people don't abuse it, it may be extended to older children too in a few years.

Moonbeam

in the 1950s I think it was they introduced something similar called the mother and child scheme,I must look up what happened to it and when.

ezra_pound

Moonbeam wrote: »

in the 1950s I think it was they introduced something similar called the mother and child scheme,I must look up what happened to it and when.

Famously that wasn't actually introduced.

ezra_pound

implausible wrote: »

It's a good move, but I don't see why it has to be all or nothing in this country - €50 or everything is free. If they had a system like they have for prescriptions where you had to pay a nominal fee e.g. €2, it might stop people taking the piss out of it entirely. I would worry that this is going to make it really difficult to get an appointment now.

Nominal fee is good suggestion.

Worth remembering however that almost 50% of under sixes already have free gp so i wouldn't be too worried about massive increase in doctor visits.

Moonbeam

ezra_pound wrote: »

Famously that wasn't actually introduced.

Found info about it..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_and_Child_Scheme
reading why it did not happen is crazy.

ezra_pound

Moonbeam wrote: »

Found info about it..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_and_Child_Scheme
reading why it did not happen is crazy.

Good old Ireland.

Big Bag of Chips

ezra_pound wrote: »

Worth remembering however that almost 50% of under sixes already have free gp...

How?

ezra_pound

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

How?

47% of under sixes.

Gp visiting card and med card is obviously more easily available for families with children than singles and families without children. also many young families have large mortgages andchildcare costs.

Big Bag of Chips

I'm very surprised that the number is that high, though.

And why up to Under 6s.. would it not be up to 18, or whenever kids come off their parents' card?

ezra_pound

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

I'm very surprised that the number is that high, though.

And why up to Under 6s.. would it not be up to 18, or whenever kids come off their parents' card?

We're talking about under sixes. The proposed measure is for under sixes.

Up to now all dependent children are counted the same in order to qualify for med card.

I'm just quoting the relevant figure -the percentage of under six year olds. It's in the independent.

With an average income paying an average mortgage and average childcare travel etc. The average parent with the average number of sprigs is entitled to free gp care.


I'm entitled to gp card but haven't bothered because it's barely worth the hassle.

Anyway here's the 47% figure:

http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/budget-throws-a-lifeline-to-hardpressed-families-29657239.html

Big Bag of Chips

I don't understand the figures.. or maybe I'm up too late.. :pac:

"At the moment, 180,000 children under five, 47pc, are covered by full medical cards or doctor-only medical cards.
The new measure will see another 240,000 children under five, 53pc, have their doctors bills covered."

53% of what? All children under 5? Why is it not 100% of children under 5?

I think claiming 47% of children under 5 have a Medical Card or GP only card is a bit askew. That means approx 1 in every 2 children?

Edit: If 180,000 equals 47% of under 5s.. then "another 240,000" can't only add up to 53%. Do you know what I mean?!

Ok - it's time for bed, I think. Those figures might make more sense to me in the morning!!!

ezra_pound

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

I don't understand the figures.. or maybe I'm up too late.. :pac:

"At the moment, 180,000 children under five, 47pc, are covered by full medical cards or doctor-only medical cards.
The new measure will see another 240,000 children under five, 53pc, have their doctors bills covered."

53% of what? All children under 5? Why is it not 100% of children under 5?

I think claiming 47% of children under 5 have a Medical Card or GP only card is a bit askew. That means approx 1 in every 2 children?

Edit: If 180,000 equals 47% of under 5s.. then "another 240,000" can't only add up to 53%. Do you know what I mean?!

Ok - it's time for bed, I think. Those figures might make more sense to me in the morning!!!

53 + 47 = 100

47 = now
100= next year
53= difference

People with children mortgage and childcare need to be on pretty good money not to qualify for gp card.

Big Bag of Chips

Ahhhhh!! Right!!! Definitely time for bed :P

We don't qualify for anything. 1 average income in the house, but no mortgage, so that could be it?

ezra_pound

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

Ahhhhh!! Right!!! Definitely time for bed :P

We don't qualify for anything. 1 average income in the house, but no mortgage, so that could be it?

No Rent?

Have you applied? If you have kid(s) and live with partner if be surprised if you don't qualify for gp card.

FunkSoulSista

This is brilliant news for sure but my worry now is this just a sweetener before the budget announcement...

monkeysnapper

Twice this year my little girl in crèche had heat rash and they rang me to collect her , I needed to get a doctors note to say this rash couldn't spread , were on the breadline as it is , 40 quid each time it cost us plus having to take afternoon off work. I wonder sometimes is it worth working at all.

But at least the free gp for under 5 will help in future .

Orion

ezra_pound wrote: »

I'm just quoting the relevant figure -the percentage of under six year olds. It's in the independent.

It's in the independent - it must be true

Personally, if the Indo said it was raining I'd go outside to check.

NIMAN

As someone who has paid €40 maybe 6 or 7 times to take Under5s to the GP, I welcome this move, but remember folks there is no such thing as 'free', we will all pay for this one way or another.

Big Bag of Chips

ezra_pound wrote: »

No Rent?

Have you applied? If you have kid(s) and live with partner if be surprised if you don't qualify for gp card.

No, we own our house. We have no childcare because I stay at home. We're not on the breadline by any means, but me & husband are both asthmatic as is one of the kids.

While we're not struggling as bad as some, €50 (more if a couple of us have to go) is still a fair chunk to have to see a GP for 5 mins.

I'm one of those "wait and see if they get worse/better" mammies!......

And I'll still be one, because my youngest, the one with asthma, turned 5 in August.

ash23

Truthfully I'm not sure if I agree with this move. When you see the state of some hospitals, the lack of resources for profoundly disabled children and the cuts to charities who are supporting the families of terminally ill children, I'm not sure that a blanket free for all is right.
Those who can well afford a GP visit for their kids will not have to pay.

This is just something that will be rolled out to fulfill an election promise but I'll reserve judgement on it until I see the cuts that are being made for carers and the disabled etc.

I'll be disappointed if this is brought in while services and support for those who are most vunerable are cut.

How Strange

I totally agree with you ash23.

I'm not a fan of universality as I think it takes the services away from those who need it most.

My nephew lost his teaching support in school a couple of years back. Honestly, while we're by no means financially loaded, I'd rather that we have to pay for our gp if others who need support services most get them.

bigalee

THe down side of this is that people are forgetting that the way they are paying for this is that they have now clawed money off the mother for what is often the most expensive and indeed difficult stage of a young childs life ie the first 6 months.. namely the time the maternity benefit is paid for.. they taxed it last year which costs most families 2457 euros in extra taxes and now they have reduced it by 30 euros.. which is an additional 780 per child born... 2457 & 780 is 3237 euros :mad: 3237 per child thats 64 visits to a gp in the first 5 years of life each child would need to make to make up for what the government took off each family per child born..

sounds to me like the government will still make a tidy profit on each and every little baby born

pwurple

bigalee wrote: »

sounds to me like the government will still make a tidy profit on each and every little baby born

Especially now that maternity benefit is being reduced as well in this budget.

bigalee

GTREAT spin today re the free gp visits for the under 5's. at first glance this seems like a real giveaway to parents......The down side of this is that people are forgetting that the way they are paying for this is that they have now clawed money off the mother for what is often the most expensive and indeed difficult stage of a young childs life ie the first 6 months.. namely the time the maternity benefit is paid for.. they taxed it last year which costs most families 2457 euros in extra taxes and now they have reduced it by 30 euros.. which is an additional 780 per child born... "2457 & 780 is 3237 euros" 3237 PER CHILD thats 64 visits to a gp in the first 5 years of life each child would need to make to make up for what the government took off each family per child born..

sounds to me like the government will still make a tidy profit on each and every little baby born

flutered

all this is smoke and mirrors, bottlers baby is in the need of a serious transfusion of cash, where they will find it is another matter, probably the disabled and the carers as they are the usual fall guys.