The short version
Ireland's public system is free at the point of use for hospital treatment, but not for primary care. Unless you hold a card, you pay the full price for every GP visit and every prescription — which is the single biggest difference between the Irish and UK systems.
| What | No card | GP visit card | Medical card |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | €50–€70 (€60–€90 Dublin) | Free | Free |
| GP out-of-hours | €60–€100 | Free | Free |
| Emergency department (no referral) | €100 | €100 | Free |
| Public hospital inpatient stay | Free | Free | Free |
| Prescriptions | Full price, capped €80/month via DPS | Full price, capped €80/month via DPS | €1.50/item, capped €15/month |
| Routine dental exam | €50–€80 | €50–€80 | Covered under DTSS |
Two forms are worth twenty minutes of your time
Almost everyone living in Ireland should be registered for the Drugs Payment Scheme — it costs nothing, it caps household medicine costs at €80 a month, and it is the scheme people most often discover only after a bad month. And everyone should check whether they qualify for a GP visit card, because allowable expenses push far more households under the limit than expect it.
GP and out-of-hours care
There is no regulated GP fee in Ireland. Practices set their own price, and it varies by region far more than people expect.
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Standard GP consultation, outside Dublin | €50–€70 |
| Standard GP consultation, Dublin | €60–€90 |
| GP out-of-hours co-op (SouthDoc, Caredoc, D-Doc, Shannondoc) | €60–€100 |
| Repeat prescription without a consultation | €15–€30 |
| Sick cert / medical certificate | €20–€40, often included in a consultation fee |
| Blood test (phlebotomy fee, on top of the consultation) | €20–€45 |
The blood test charge catches people out
Many practices bill a separate phlebotomy fee for taking blood, even for medical card holders, because it falls outside the GMS contract. Ask when you book. Some HSE community phlebotomy clinics take GP-referred bloods at no charge.
Hospital and emergency charges
This is the part of the Irish system that genuinely is free — with one significant exception at the front door.
| Situation | Charge |
|---|---|
| Emergency department, no GP referral | €100 per visit |
| Emergency department, with a GP referral letter | No charge |
| Emergency department, then admitted as an inpatient | No charge |
| Public inpatient stay (any length) | No charge — abolished April 2023 |
| Public outpatient clinic after a public referral | No charge |
| Private consultant outpatient appointment | €150–€300+ |
| Ambulance | Generally no charge in practice |
Medical card holders are exempt from the €100 charge entirely. So is anyone attending for a specified condition, and anyone sent to the ED by their GP — which is why it is worth ringing your practice or the out-of-hours co-op first, even if you expect to be sent in.
Medicines and the caps that matter
Three schemes govern what you pay at a pharmacy counter, and they do not overlap:
| Scheme | Who it is for | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) | Anyone ordinarily resident without a medical card | Maximum €80 per month for the whole household |
| Medical card, under 70 | Medical card holders | €1.50 per item, capped at €15 per month per person or family |
| Medical card, over 70 | Medical card holders aged 70+ | €1 per item, capped at €10 per month per person or family |
| Long Term Illness Scheme | People with one of 16 listed conditions | Free medicines and appliances for that condition, regardless of income |
The Long Term Illness Scheme is separate from income
If you have diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's disease or another listed condition, medicines and appliances for that condition are free under the Long Term Illness Scheme — no means test, and you can hold it alongside a DPS registration for everything else.
Since June 2025, Hormone Replacement Therapy is free from participating pharmacies if you are registered for the Drugs Payment Scheme.
Dental, optical and therapies
These sit largely outside the public system unless you hold a medical card, and are where household health spending quietly accumulates.
| Treatment | Typical private cost | Public help |
|---|---|---|
| Dental examination | €50–€80 | PRSI covers one free exam a year; medical card covers under DTSS |
| Filling | €100–€180 | Covered under DTSS with a medical card |
| Scale and polish | €60–€100 | PRSI Treatment Benefit contributes towards the cost |
| Eye test | €30–€50 | PRSI covers one free test every 2 years; free with a medical card |
| Glasses | €100–€300+ | PRSI contributes; medical card covers a basic pair |
| Physiotherapy session | €55–€80 | Limited public provision via GP or consultant referral |
| Counselling session | €60–€100 | HSE Counselling in Primary Care is free for medical card holders |
If you pay PRSI, the Treatment Benefit Scheme is the most overlooked entitlement in the country — a free annual dental exam, a contribution towards a scale and polish, a free eye test every two years and a contribution towards glasses or contact lenses. Your dentist or optician claims it directly; you only need to give them your PPS number.
What private health insurance does and does not cover
Roughly half the population holds private health insurance, and it is often misunderstood. It is designed around hospital care and access speed, not everyday costs.
- Covered well: private or semi-private hospital accommodation, elective procedures without the public waiting list, and consultant fees for inpatient treatment.
- Covered partly: GP and consultant outpatient fees, physiotherapy and some therapies — usually as a percentage refund after an annual excess, on a day-to-day benefit that is capped.
- Not covered: the €100 ED charge in most plans, routine dental and optical care, and prescriptions.
Insurance also does not remove the need for a card. Plenty of households hold both — insurance for hospital care, and a GP visit card or medical card for everyday care.
Moving between Ireland and the UK? Our guide to NHS prescription charges sets out the equivalent costs on the other side of the Irish Sea.
Common questions
How much does a GP visit cost in Ireland?
Typically €50 to €70 outside Dublin and €60 to €90 in Dublin, though there is no regulated fee and practices set their own. Out-of-hours co-ops usually charge more, commonly €60 to €100. Visits are free with a medical card or GP visit card.
How much is the emergency department charge in Ireland?
The charge is €100 per visit if you attend a public emergency department without a referral from a GP. You are exempt if you have a medical card, if you were referred by a GP, if you are admitted as an inpatient from the ED, or if you are attending for certain specified conditions.
Do you have to pay for a public hospital stay in Ireland?
No. Public inpatient charges were abolished in April 2023. Treatment in a public bed in a public hospital, including an overnight or longer stay, is not billed to the patient.
How much do prescriptions cost in Ireland?
Without a card you pay the full pharmacy price, but the Drugs Payment Scheme caps what a household spends at €80 a month. With a medical card the charge is €1.50 per item capped at €15 a month if you are under 70, or €1 per item capped at €10 a month if you are over 70.
Is Ireland expensive for healthcare compared with the UK?
At the point of use, yes for primary care. A GP visit in Ireland typically costs €50 to €70 while NHS GP appointments are free across the UK. The gap narrows for medicines — the Irish Drugs Payment Scheme caps a household at €80 a month, while English prescriptions are £9.90 per item with a £114.50 annual prepayment certificate.
Does private health insurance cover GP visits in Ireland?
Only partly. Most policies refund a portion of GP and consultant fees under a day-to-day benefit, often after an excess, rather than paying the fee up front. Insurance is primarily aimed at private and semi-private hospital care and faster access to consultants.
Where these figures come from
- Citizens Information — hospital charges
- Citizens Information — Drugs Payment Scheme
- HSE — prescription charges for medical card holders
Charges and thresholds change. We check these figures regularly, but always confirm the current rate with the official source before you rely on it. This page explains entitlements, costs and process — it is not medical advice.
The cheapest appointment is the one you can actually get
ViscaCare members get online Doctor access from day one across Ireland, the UK and Europe, with prescriptions where clinically appropriate — plus your records, wearables and family cover in one place.
Related guides
Medical card Ireland
Medicines at €1.50, hospital care, dental and optical cover — and the income limits.
Read moreGP visit card
Free GP visits on higher income limits than a medical card.
Read moreSick certs in Ireland
What a cert costs, and how Illness Benefit and employer certification work.
Read moreNHS prescription charges
The £9.90 charge, exemptions, and whether a prepayment certificate saves you money.
Read moreRegister with a GP
What a practice can and cannot ask for, and what to do if you are refused.
Read more