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Health Services

Medical Care Scheme

What is the Medical Care Scheme?

The Medical Care Scheme is a benefit program in Ireland that provides compensation for medical costs related to work-related injuries or prescribed occupational diseases. It covers costs that are not covered by the HSE or the Treatment Benefit Scheme.

How to qualify for the Medical Care Scheme:

To qualify:

  • You must have been injured as a result of your work, or while travelling directly to or from work, or you must have contracted a prescribed occupational disease.
  • You must notify the department within 6 weeks of starting medical treatment.
  • You must be employed and paying PRSI at class A, B, D, J, or M.

  • If your work-related injury or disease doesn't immediately incapacitate you, you should notify your employer without delay and apply to the department for a declaration that your injury or disease was due to your job. However, if you're applying for Occupational Injury Benefit (IB1) or the Medical Care Scheme, you don't need to make a separate application for a declaration.

    Expenses Covered under the Medical Care Scheme:

    Necessary expenses may be reimbursed for:

  • Doctors' visits.
  • Prescription medications.
  • Certain appliances (for example, artificial limbs, hearing aids, etc.).
  • Repair and replacement of these appliances.
  • Certain dental and optical treatments.
  • Certain treatments prescribed by your doctor (for example, osteopathic, acupuncturist, or chiropractic treatments).
  • Certain travel expenses (typically limited to public transportation).

  • Rates of Payment:

    Payments from the Medical Care Scheme are made by electronic funds transfer. For ongoing treatments, you may receive payments in instalments. However, typically only one payment will be made. Usually, the payment is made to the claimant, but in some cases, it may be paid to the HSE or to the employer, if necessary.

    How to Apply

    To apply:

  • Fill in the form
  • Your application must include the original receipts. Copies will not be accepted.

  • Please return your completed application and the relevant supporting documentation to:

    Medical Care Scheme Section
    Address: Department of Social Protection,
    Áras Mhic Dhiarmada,
    Store Street,
    Dublin 1,
    Co. Longford,
    D01 WY03

    Phone number: (01) 7043022

    Cost of Medical Care in respect of an Occupational Accident or Disease (C1)