Medical Cards 

 Only about 10% of the student body is entitled to a medical card (GMS).  A Medical Card entitles the holder to free consultation, free prescriptions and free hospitalisation.  Students are not entitled to a Medical card unless their parents have such a card or unless they are on a grant, but mature students i.e. over 24 years of age could be entitled to a card in their own right depending on income. 

Presently it is extremely difficult to find a GMS doctor to sign up with in Galway as their GMS lists have reached their capacity, so we would advise students to sign up with their home GP's and providing your GP is not within a ten mile radius of the college you can use your card here during the academic year.

EU students are entitled to free medical consultations and prescriptions in Ireland with the E111, E109, E128 and European Health Cards.  UK students are entitled to free services and free prescriptions when they attend doctors in Ireland.

All North American students and all other foreign nationals other than EU and UK students have no medical card entitlements here so they are recommended to have adequate medical insurance with them as hospital care can be very expensive in Ireland.  However attendance at the Student Health Centre is free.  There are three Irish Providers of health insurance contactable through their websites: Useful links:

http://www.vhi.ie/                                                                                                                                                              

http://www.quinn-healthcare.com/

http://www.hibernianaviva.ie/

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• Copyright
• Accessibility