If you live in Ireland and do not have a medical card, you are considered a private patient if you visit your GP. This means that you must pay for the services provided.

A medical card is available to people on low income or whose circumstances enable them to qualify for one.

There are no set fees or charges in Ireland for GP services. My local doctor charges €40 when I visit him. He also charges €25 for a repeat prescription.There are lots of other things he will charge me for too such as sick notes, vaccinations etc.
You should confirm charges with your GP when you register as they can vary all over the country.

In Ireland you can get insurance cover that will cover some of the fees charged by your GP. VHI and Quinn and Hibernian provide cover. It might be worth taking it out if you are ill often - but then you never know what is round the corner?

Charges for medicines on a prescription in Ireland are free if you have a medical card - but otherwise you pay for the actual cost of the drugs. There is a limit to what you will be expected to pay - which is €90 per month for a family. (Drugs Payment Scheme)

People in Ireland who suffer from certain long term conditions, who are not medical card holders, may obtain the drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of that condition - free of charge.

Illnesses and condition covered ;

* Mental handicap * Mental illness (for people under 16 only) * Diabetes insipidus * Diabetes mellitus * Haemophilia * Cerebral palsy * Phenylketonuria * Epilepsy * Cystic fibrosis * Multiple sclerosis * Spina bifida * Muscular dystrophies * Hydrocephalus * Parkinsonism * Acute leukaemia * Conditions arising from use of Thalidomide