Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As provided for under the GP Agreement 2023, the expansion of GP visit card eligibility to all children aged 6 and 7 years commenced from the 11th of August, and the expansion of GP visit card eligibility to all people who earn the median household income or less is underway. The expansion to the median household income will be completed in two phases, the 11th of September 2023, now commenced, and the 13th of November 2023.

Following the recent commencement of the first phase of the median income expansion, the current qualifying weekly financial thresholds for a GP visit card are as follows:

• Single person living alone aged up to 69: €361
• Single person living with family: €322
• Married or cohabiting couple with or without dependents: €524
• Lone parent: €524

After the commencement of the second phase of the median income expansion from the 13th of November, the qualifying weekly financial thresholds for a GP visit card will expand further to:

• Single person living alone aged up to 69: €418
• Single person living with family: €373
• Married or cohabiting couple with or without dependents: €607
• Lone parent: €607

These thresholds represent approximately a 37.5% increase on the basic rates applied prior to the commencement of the expansion.

An individual’s qualifying financial threshold for a GP visit card is calculated by adding together three factors:

• a basic rate - an amount of money based on your age and household, as set out above;
• an amount allocated for each dependant; and
• an amount allocated for allowable expenses (for example, rent, mortgage payments, childcare costs, etc.).

The published income thresholds are the thresholds which apply before the allowable amounts for dependents and allowable expenses are factored in.