07
Mar
2018
We are delighted to announce that registration for the medical card for all children for whom the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is paid is now open (May 1st 2017).
We urge all parents and guardians of eligible children who do not currently hold a medical card or GP Visit Card to avail of the registration process early, either online at www.medicalcard.ie or by paper application form, so that medical cards can be certified for use from 1 June.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2017 provides all children in respect of whom the DCA is made with a medical card. It will benefit approximately 9,800 children who do not currently qualify for a medical card.
How to Apply
Parents/Guardians can apply for a medical card:
Online – at www.medicalcard.ie – selecting the Medical Card (DCA) tab
or
Complete a Registration Form and return it to:
The National Medical Card Unit,
PO Box 11745
Business Reply
Dublin 11
D11 XKF3
Registration forms can be downloaded from www.medicalcard.ie or forms will be available from local health offices, citizen information centres or, by calling 1890 252 919.
Who Should Register for the Scheme
- A child in respect of whom a DCA is payable, who is ordinarily resident in Ireland and who does not have Medical Card or GP Visit Card eligibility should be registered on this scheme.
- A child in respect of whom the DCA is payable who has Medical Card or GP Visit Card eligibility does not need to register as the child will be automatically registered for Medical Card eligibility for a period of 6 years, or until the child’s sixteenth birthday, whichever is earlier.
Making the announcing today, Minister for Health Simon Harris said: “This legislation, which was passed in March of this year, was an important milestone for children with a disability and their families; I am delighted that the Government has delivered on this commitment which is supporting the most vulnerable in society.”
Minister of State Finian McGrath added: “Provision of these medical cards will go some way to help to alleviate the stress and anxiety of parents and guardians who are dealing with the medical costs associated with a child’s disability.”
After years of lobbying the Government on your behalf alongside other disability groups to extend medical card provision for children with Down syndrome, we’re pleased to say that a huge burden of worry and anxiety has finally been lifted from parents.
