Medical Card relief on health expenses

I have a necessary operation coming up which is going to cost me €7,000 and unfortunately I have no private health insurance cover. I live in Northern Ireland and hold a medical card there. Does anyone know if a medical card in a different jurisdiction is sufficient to qualify for relief on the operation costs?

I didn't think there was any such thing as a medical card in Northern Ireland, I thought you just used the NHS.

Where are you planning on having the operation, I'm not really sure what you're asking advice on.

Do you work and pay tax in the Republic or in Northern Ireland?

trigger3 said:

I have a necessary operation coming up which is going to cost me €7,000 and unfortunately I have no private health insurance cover. I live in Northern Ireland and hold a medical card there. Does anyone know if a medical card in a different jurisdiction is sufficient to qualify for relief on the operation costs?

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If you live in Northern Ireland and work in RoI, you will qualify for a medical card in RoI. This will be most useful for GP visits and prescriptions. Presumably, you will also be entitled as all RoI residents are to 'free' hospital care in RoI.

Your medical expenses would be allowable against your PAYE tax bill in RoI, at 20% I think.

I have an NHS medical card which every citizen of NI is entitled to (this is not means tested as in ROI). I am planning on having the operation in a private hospital in Dublin. I live in NI and work in ROI so does this mean I have to apply for a medical card in ROI and if so what are the criteria for qualifying if this is means tested?

I’m aware that any medical expenses incurred solely by myself qualify for relief at 20% but its getting the money to pay upfront for the operation that gives rise to the biggest difficulty.

A medical card in the RoI will not cover treatment in a private hospital, so it will be of no benefit to you in your current circumstances.

trigger3 said:

I have an NHS medical card which every citizen of NI is entitled to (this is not means tested as in ROI). I am planning on having the operation in a private hospital in Dublin. I live in NI and work in ROI so does this mean I have to apply for a medical card in ROI and if so what are the criteria for qualifying if this is means tested?

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I have no idea if the fact that you live in NI will affect your application, but here is some general information on income levels and eligibility for medicial cards.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/entitlement_to_health_services/medical_card.html

If you apply for and get a medical card, you then have to ask your GP for a referal to the public clinic of a consultant to perform the operation.
After you have been on the waiting list to see the consultant, and the consultant agrees that you need the operation, you go on the waiting list of the operation.

Waiting lists for different hospitals and consultants differ, but at a guess, for non-emergency surgery, this might take 1 year or it might take a lot more.