Query re paying for test when one has medical card

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Rose

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If one has a medical card should one have to pay the GP for doing a blood test for cholestrol. Some people I know never have to pay but other people who live in a different area always have to pay and some of them are asked to pay more than others or does this depend on where one lives.
 
I think that could depend on whether the GP feels the blood test is clinically necessary for your medical care or not. Some people just want to know their cholesterol level even though they have no other risk factors for heart disease. In this case I don't see why the state (ie us taxpayers) should fund it. If everyone wanted their cholesterol checking every year, primary care would be utterly swamped. There's recent evidence that there's been over-treatment of slightly raised levels in otherwise healthy people, with no benefit, so all the more reason for discouraging unnecessary testing.
 
I suppose the only reason I had one in the first place was because of high blood pressure and now I have a cholesterol check done annually..
 
Exactly, Pat. I'm sure no GP would charge someone who had high BP since the lipids check would be part of their annual blood-screen.
 
My doctor charges all patients for blood tests, medical card holders and other fee paying patients. The doctor doesn't actually take the blood. It's necessary to make an appointment with the practice nurse - she takes the blood. It did cross my mind that the fee charged went towards the nurse's wage!!! because there's no charge to the patient if one takes the letter of request for these tests to the Outpatients department at the hospital. the amount of the charge seems to depend on the number of tests involved.
 
Thank you all for the replies. I want to let you know what I managed to find out from from a HSE regional information line, they say that particular test is not covered by a medical card but in practice most GPs do it without charge. Whether this is the same in all areas of the HSE or not I do not know.
 
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