Prescription charges for medical card holders

If you have a medical card, you get your prescription drugs and medicines free, but you will usually pay a small fee at the pharmacy.

This prescription charge is €1.50 for each item that is dispensed to you under the medical card scheme, up to a maximum of €15 per month for each person or family.

If you are aged over 70, the prescription charge is €1 per item, up to a maximum of €10 per month for each person or family.

A family is defined as you, your spouse or partner, any children under 16 years of age and any children between 16 and under 21 years of age who are in full time education.

When you show your pharmacy a family certificate, you and members of your family included on it should not pay more than the maximum €15 each month.

Getting a family certificate

To avoid paying more than the monthly limit, register your family up as a family group to get a family certificate. You give the certificate to your pharmacist. The certificate shows all the members of your family so that the pharmacy will not collect charges above the monthly limit.

To register for the certificate, you will need to provide the:

• Name, date of birth and gender of each family member
• Personal Public Service (PPS) number of each family member
• Evidence of full-time education if your child is over 18 years
• Medical card number of each family member

If you do not have access to the internet you can get help from your Local Health Office or phone 0818 22 44 78 and they will take the details and send you the certificate. Your local pharmacist may also be able to help you. You will need to have the medical card number for each member of your family.

The HSE may ask you for your Social Welfare and Revenue data to confirm your details to process your application.

The prescription charges are eligible for tax relief for medical expenses.

If you pay over the monthly limit for prescriptions, the Health Service Executive (HSE) will refund you automatically each year. The refund is based on the information received from your pharmacy.

The HSE issues refunds for amounts of €20 or more. Refunds under €20 are carried over to the next refund payment date.

You can avoid the need for a refund if you and your family visit the same pharmacy and your pharmacist can identify all of your family members.

If you have a question about refunds you can phone 0818 22 44 78 or email clientregistration@hse.ie

You do not pay a prescription charge if you have a medical card and if you:

• Are eligible for free HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for menopause and perimenopause symptoms
• Qualify for the Long Term Illness Scheme. You get the drugs and medicines for the treatment of that illness for free.
• Have a Health Amendment Act Card. You can get approved prescribed drugs and medicines free of charge.
• Are a child in the care of the HSE. This includes children in residential care, foster care, foster care with relatives and other care placements who have a medical card.
• Are seeking International Protection (an asylum seeker or refugee) and get the Daily Expenses Allowance
• Use methadone as a patient on the Methadone Treatment Scheme
• Have a Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 Services Card
• Are a person affected by the National Cervical Check Service (or their dependent)
• Use HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

High Tech products and medicines

There is no prescription charge for High Tech products and medicines.

Help with refunds

If you have a question about refunds you can phone 0818 22 44 78 or email clientregistration@hse.ie