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Medical Card and GP Visit Card in other places

Your Medical Card or GP Visit Card is mainly used with services in your usual GP area.
This page helps you choose the right information if you are away from home or your health insurance is linked to another country.

This topic helps you:

  • Work out what usually happens when you use your card outside your normal area
  • Understand when EU Regulations or UK rules might affect your cover
Use this topic if you or someone you support is
  • Visiting or moving to another county in Ireland
  • Living in Ireland but insured in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK
  • Living or working abroad while your dependants live in Ireland and may qualify under EU family cover

If you mainly need everyday guidance on using your card where you live, see:

Choose the route that fits your situation

Most common situation

If you are visiting another county in Ireland

Use this if you are temporarily away from home inside Ireland and want to know what your Medical Card or GP Visit Card usually covers while you are visiting.

Learn how to use your card away from home

If you are insured in another EU or EEA country or the UK

Use this if you live in Ireland, but you or your spouse, partner or parent are insured for healthcare in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK.

Learn about Medical Cards under EU or UK rules

If your dependants live in Ireland but you are insured abroad

Use this if you work or are retired in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, while your spouse, partner or children live in Ireland.

Learn how EU family cover may work
!!! tip If you are still unsure, you can: - Start with **EU regulations or UK rules** topic, or - Make a note of your situation and bring this page or printout to your local Citizens Information Centre or Intreo Centre, and ask staff to go through it together.