"It's a really important measure"
From today (September 11th), an additional 215,000 people will be eligible to access free GP care.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has announced that applications for the GP visit cards are open for newly eligible people.
This is the first of two phases to provide free care by GPs to approximately 430,000 people, with the second phase expected in November.
Aiming to cover up to 500,000 people, this will be the most significant increase in eligibility for free GP care in the history of the State.
Speaking on the expansion in health care, Minister Donnelly said this 'important measure' is encouraging everyone to see what their eligibility is.
"It's a really important measure. It's part of an expansion we're in the middle of. Half a million GP cards, so we've already gone live with GP cards for every six and seven-year-old in the country, that was in August.
"We are including every household up to the median income. That is about 430,000 people."
He urged people to go to the
HSE website and put in their details to see if they qualify for the new scheme.
"A single person who is renting with no children, on an income of around €40,000. A couple with children with a mortgage with one income, about €53,000. A couple with two children, a mortgage and childcare costs, about €63,000, they would qualify.
"I would encourage anyone to go a take a look, put in your own figures, your financial information, and see."
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