Everyone without a medical card should apply for a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card.
Having a DPS card means you or your family will pay a maximum of €80 in a calendar month for:
- approved prescribed drugs and medicines
- rental costs for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine
- rental costs for oxygen
You will also need a DPS card to get free hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Free HRT will be available from 1 June.
If you have a DPS card and you paid more than €80 in a calendar month, you may be entitled to a refund.
Who can apply
Anyone living in Ireland and intends to live here for at least 1 year can apply.
There is no means test for a DPS card.
Family applications
A family is an adult, their partner and any children or dependants.
Include any family member who can't maintain themselves and has:
- a physical disability
- an intellectual disability
- an illness
Include a medical report for any family member who cannot maintain themselves.
To add a new baby or a dependant, email nmcu.cod@hse.ie. Include a copy of their birth cert and proof of their PPS number.
Applying if you have children in full-time education
If you're applying as a family you can add anyone age 18 to 23 in full-time education.
To do this, complete section 2 of the Drugs Payment Scheme application form (PDF, 226KB, 6 pages), or the Scéim Íocaíoctaí Drugaí Foirm Iarratais (PDF, 743KB, 6 pages).
Anyone over the age of 18 not in full-time education must apply for their own card.
Check the status of your application
If you apply online you get a reference number. You can use this to check the status of your application.
If you apply by post and provide a mobile number, we text you your reference number. If you do not provide a mobile number, we post the reference number to you.
How long cards are valid for
Your card will have a ‘Valid to’ date on it. You can also use our online eligibility status check to see if your card is still valid.
If your card has expired you will need to apply again. The quickest way to apply is online.
Problems with your card
You can update the address on your drugs payment scheme card online.
You will need to give us:
- the name and PPS number for everyone on the card
- the name and PPS number for any dependants with their own cards who live with you
- a copy, scan or photo of a utility bill, rent agreement, bank statement or letter from a Government Department dated within 12 months
Email nmcu.cod@hse.ie or contact us by post if your:
- card is lost or stolen
- address has changed
- address has changed but you cannot update it online
Drugs Payment Scheme,
Eligibility Unit,
PO Box 12966,
Dublin 11
Make sure to include copies of all supporting documents.
For any other queries, phone 0818 224 478.
The digital version of your card will appear in the HSE Health App before you get it in the post. Download the HSE Health App.