Over 140,000 people had medical cards taken in 2025

Michael Bolton

Figures from the HSE show over 140,000 people lost their medical cards last year.

140,070 people lost their medical cards in 2025, figures from the HSE through the Freedom of Information Act show.

100,603 had their medical cards removed, the figures seen by BreakingNews.ie show. This can be due to not responding to the HSE, or an insufficient response, such as not having the required documentation.

23,895 medical cards were not issued due to the person being deceased, while 9,989 people lost their cards due to not being eligible.

5,583 people no longer had their medical cards as they were removed by their GP.

In July, the HSE announced it has paused issuing plastic medical cards due to a cyber attack.

If you have a medical card, you don't have to pay to see your GP, or for most medicines they prescribe.

The medical card also covers inpatient and outpatient services, eye and ear tests, and dental checks.

A spokesperson from the HSE said: "During 2025, eligibility for almost 1 million Medical Cards and/or GP Visit Cards were due to expire.

"During 2025, the HSE had access to sufficient information to enable the extension of eligibility for more than 700,000 of those individuals without requiring individuals to submit a new application.

"However, individuals whose continued eligibility could not be determined by the HSE were required to submit an application so that their eligibility could be assessed.

"The HSE writes to all such individuals at the address the individuals have provided to the HSE, and this letter is issued three months before their eligibility is due to expire.

"If an application is not received, reminders are sent to those individuals about 4 weeks before their eligibility is due to expire.

"Where, following these reminders, an individual does not submit an application to enable the HSE to determine whether they remain eligible, their eligibility for the scheme expires on the original expiry date.

"Where the HSE receives an application before an individual’s eligibility expires, but the application is still being assessed when the expiry date is reached, the HSE extends the individual's eligibility pending the completion of the assessment."