There are some entitlements and social welfare supports for people with diabetes in Ireland. See below a reasonable summary of entitlements for people with diabetes and their carers. The information provided is for guidance only.
For help with accessing information, completing forms or non-judgemental information on your entitlements, contact your local office of the Citizens Information Service.
Every person diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes is entitled to a Long Term Illness (LTI) card. The LTI card provides free medications and medical appliances for managing your diabetes.
Free diabetes-related medications and appliances covered include:
The LTI Scheme does not depend on your income or other circumstances. You may also be eligible for a Medical card or GP visit card, depending on your circumstances.
You do not have to pay a prescription charge for drugs you are approved for under the LTI Scheme. However, you will have to pay for other drugs and medicines not related to your diabetes in the normal way.
You can get an application form from your Local Health Office or download an application form (pdf) or call 0818 22 44 78 to order an application form.
The completed application form must be signed by your doctor or consultant. Send your completed application form to:
Long Term Illness Scheme
Client Registration Unit
PO Box 12962
Dublin 11
D11 XKF3
Processing of your application can take a few weeks. If you urgently need medication, your pharmacist may give you a short emergency support (insulin or strips) at their discretion.
A Medical Card provides free GP care, prescription medicines, public hospital services, and some dental, optical, and aural services. It is means-tested, but people with significant medical needs (e.g. children with diabetes or those with low income) may qualify.
There are different guidelines for the means test depending on whether you are aged over or under 70. In some cases, people with diabetes may receive a medical card on discretionary or hardship grounds.
A GP visit card gives you free visits to a participating family doctor (GP). If you are not eligible for a medical card, you may be eligible for a GP visit card.
Your GP visit card covers the cost of visits to your GP and visits to GP out-of-hours services. You will qualify for a GP visit card with no means test if you are:
If you are aged under 70, your income is assessed by the HSE to see whether you qualify for a GP visit card.
You can download an application form for the GP visit card and medical card (pdf) and email it to pcrs.applications@hse.ie or post it to:
National Medical Card Unit
PO Box 11745,
Dublin 11
For further information visit GP visit cards.
You can apply for a medical card or GP visit card online on medicalcard.ie.
Some families may be eligible to apply for other social welfare entitlements. These may include (list is not exhaustive):
For all people with diabetes aged 12 or over, this programme offers free, regular screening for diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can damage your eyesight.
Regular screening helps to prevent/delay damage to your eyesight.
You may claim tax relief on the health expenses; cost of diabetes devices or medications not covered under public schemes including:
These must be prescribed by a doctor to qualify.
Prescription Costs: Medications or insulin not covered under the Long-Term Illness Scheme
You can claim tax relief online using Revenue’s My Account Service https://www.ros.ie/myaccount-web/home.html.
You can only claim for medical expenses if you have receipts to prove your claim.
If you have private health insurance, you may be entitled to claim diabetes-related expenses from your insurer (like VHI, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health, etc.). This might include selected Approved Medical and Surgical Appliances.
Check with your insurer, if this includes diabetes technologies, such as Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems and sensors.
Entitlement to clam diabetes-related expenses depends on your policy type and level of cover. Check with your insurer to see if you are entitled to claim for some of your expenses.
