Parents of children aged 6 and 7 can now register their little ones to avail of free GP care from today, Friday, August 11, 2023.
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has announced the opening of registrations for GP visit cards for children aged 6 and 7 from today.
This means the original GP Visit Card scheme has been expanded from Under 6’s to Under 8’s in order to provide free GP care for all children under the age of 8 in Ireland.
Approximately 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 will now be able to receive free GP care.
This move represents the beginning of the first stage in the biggest expansion in eligibility for free GP care in the history of the State covering up to 500,000 people.
Speaking about the opening of registrations today, Stephen Donnelly stated, “I am delighted to announce that registrations for children aged 6 and 7 for the expanded Under 8s GP Visit Card scheme will open today, while current GP visit cards will be automatically extended until a child’s 8th birthday”.
“This expansion will provide free GP care to approximately 78,000 children aged 6 and 7 across Ireland who currently access GP care on a private basis. This will ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing healthcare and provides vital support to families dealing with cost of living challenges. The move is an important step towards universal healthcare”.
The Minister went on to say, “We are committed to making healthcare affordable for families. We have abolished inpatient charges, first for children and then for all - saving families up to €800 per year. We have brought the maximum amount payable by households under the Drug Payment Scheme down to €80 per month”.
“This expansion of the GP Visit Card scheme marks a significant milestone as we provide families with access to free GP care for children up to 7 years old, extending care for an extra 2 years of a child’s life”.
He added, “I am committed to ensuring that cost will not be a barrier for children’s healthcare. Ensuring that children in Ireland can visit their GP for free gives them access to healthcare at the right time to help ensure their long-term health and wellbeing”.
In order to register your 6 or 7-year-old for a GP visit card, go to hes.ie. Many children will not need to register as little ones who turned 6 after July 1, 2023, will have their cards extended automatically by the HSE.
