Medical Card T's & C's.

chicorytip

Hello. In order to qualify for a medical card is it necessary for the applicant to be residing within a certain distance of their preferred GP's surgery? I have heard there is a limit of nine miles but cannot find any specific information regarding this on the HSE website.

hawthorne

I never heard anything like that- but you could be right.
The main problem today seems to be finding a doctor who is willingly to accept you as a patient. Doctors don't have to accept Medical Card patients. Many refuse to take on patients due to ongoing unsolved disputes with the HSE about the sheme.

TheBlackPill

hawthorne wrote: »

I never heard anything like that- but you could be right.
The main problem today seems to be finding a doctor who is willingly to accept you as a patient. Doctors don't have to accept Medical Card patients. Many refuse to take on patients due to ongoing unsolved disputes with the HSE about the sheme.

The local health office will assign your medical card to a gms gp in your area without the GPs permission. Usually to the GP with the lowest number of GMS patients even if oversubscribed. GP cannot refuse or risk losing GMS contract.

chicorytip

I'm thinking in terms of a situation similar to a Social Welfare recipient who moves to a neighbouring county, from Dublin to Meath let's say. Their file gets transferred to the relevant office in the new area.
I have also heard that in the event of a medical emergency that may require the intervention of your GP it is necessary that patient and doctor are both located in the same immediate district.
Again, I can't find any information regarding this online.

rubberdungeon

chicorytip wrote: »

Hello. In order to qualify for a medical card is it necessary for the applicant to be residing within a certain distance of their preferred GP's surgery? I have heard there is a limit of nine miles but cannot find any specific information regarding this on the HSE website.

Selecting a doctor

If you apply online, the doctor you select will be contacted to accept you as a medical card patient.

If you apply using the printed application form, you can call the GP that you have chosen from the list of participating doctors.

Usually, the GP you select must be within 7 miles of where you live. If the GP agrees to accept you as a patient for medical card GP services, you can send them the form to sign.

If you are refused by 3 GPs, state this on your application, including details of the doctors, and the HSE will assign a doctor to you.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/medical_cards_and_gp_visit_cards/medical_card.html

Gatling

Gp's can a do turn down new medical card patients ,some will take new patients others will claim over subscribed and say sorry can't take you ,have you tried the one up the road

TheBlackPill

Gatling wrote: »

Gp's can a do turn down new medical card patients ,some will take new patients others will claim over subscribed and say sorry can't take you ,have you tried the one up the road

And that is why you contact the local hse office and tell them you cant get registered

JustAThought

TheBlackPill wrote: »

The local health office will assign your medical card to a gms gp in your area without the GPs permission. Usually to the GP with the lowest number of GMS patients even if oversubscribed. GP cannot refuse or risk losing GMS contract.

That is not true. They can assign you a GP IF you have written proof that you have been refused by 3 different medical practices ie 3 different times. You have no guarantee of where that GP may be, what their opening times are, or how many weeks you may have to then wait for a ‘first’ /screening appointment. Or what language they may speak or their level of experience....

However there are also contractual restrictions in the number of patients a practice can have and tge covid hs also changed a lot - risk, H&S, extra (ie added risk) hours available to work etc

SourSessions

It's 15km.

dartboardio

JustAThought wrote: »

That is not true. They can assign you a GP IF you have written proof that you have been refused by 3 different medical practices ie 3 different times. You have no guarantee of where that GP may be, what their opening times are, or how many weeks you may have to then wait for a ‘first’ /screening appointment. Or what language they may speak or their level of experience....

However there are also contractual restrictions in the number of patients a practice can have and tge covid hs also changed a lot - risk, H&S, extra (ie added risk) hours available to work etc

You do not need written proof.

You simply need to write the names and address of 3 GPS who refused you, and provide that with your application.

If 3 have refused you, the HSE will assign one in your area.