Managing money and financial support

Coping with medical expenses

Hospital charges

Everyone living in Ireland is entitled to a range of health services either free of charge or at reduced cost. If you live in Ireland and are an ordinary resident, you can access in-patient and out-patient services in public hospitals. Public hospitals include HSE hospitals and voluntary hospitals.

Certain visitors to Ireland are also entitled to public health services, such as people covered under EU Regulations.

For more information on Hospital Charges, please visit Hospital Charges Information.

If you wish to attend a private emergency department or see a consultant as a private patient, you will have to pay the appropriate private fee.

Waiver of medical expenses

Help is available if you’re finding it difficult to pay your medical expenses, especially hospital charges. The HSE can reduce or waive (cancel) a charge if it’s causing you severe financial hardship. You will need to show the HSE officer how difficult it would be for you to pay the charge. To find out more about this, talk to your medical social worker or contact your local health office.

Medical cards 

Medical cards are usually given to people on lower levels of income. If your income is above the limit, you may still be able to get a medical card if you have a lot of medical expenses and you would experience financial hardship without one. This is called a discretionary medical card. Our Benefits Hub has information on medical cards and how to apply. 

Health insurance

If you have health insurance, some of most of the costs will be covered, depending on your plan and the services you use. It’s best to call your insurer to check what you’re covered for, before starting treatment. 

Social welfare payments

There are a number of social welfare payments to help if you are ill. For example, Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension. But you won’t get them automatically - it’s up to you to apply for them. If there is a Medical Social Worker at your hospital, they can advise you about benefits. Your local Citizens Information Centre can also give you information. 

Go to our Benefits Hub page for an overview of the main payments and read our advice on applying for social welfare payments. 

Drugs Payment Scheme 

You can get help with the cost of medicines under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS). This means that each household will pay no more than €80 each calendar month for prescribed drugs, medicines and medical aids (appliances).

The scheme is not means tested − it is for everyone, no matter what your income. 

There’s more information on applying for the Drugs Payment Scheme on our Benefits Hub page.

Tax relief for medical expenses

If you pay medical expenses that are not covered by the State or by private health insurance, including travel and medical equipment, you can claim tax relief on some of those expenses. 

How to apply: You can apply online by registering on the Revenue website www.revenue.ie and claim your health expenses through your tax return.

Remember: Any claim must be made within 4 years of the end of the tax year that you had the medical expenses you’re claiming for. Do ask your medical social worker or local Citizens Information Centre for more advice. 

Help with travel expenses

Irish Cancer Society Services

The Irish Cancer Society has two services to help patients travelling to and from their cancer appointments:

Travel2Care is a limited fund, made available by the National Cancer Control Programme, for patients who are travelling for cancer tests or treatment to one of the national designated cancer centres or their approved satellite centres. Patients must be travelling over 50km one way to access the fund. Information on how to access this fund is available on our Travel2Care page.

Our Volunteer Driver Service is for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments who are having difficulty getting to and from their local appointments in our partner hospitals. To access the Volunteer Driver Service contact your hospital social worker or nurse.

Tax relief on travel expenses

If you regularly need to travel long distances for treatment or other hospital appointments you can claim tax relief on what you spend. All methods of transport are covered, but parking fees, local travel or occasional travel are not allowable. You can also claim tax relief on the cost of transport by ambulance. Contact your local tax office for more details, as individual claims may differ.

Coping with financial pressures

It can be hard to deal with money matters when you're focused on your treatment and may be feeling unwell. If you're worried about money or are finding it hard to manage financially, it can leave you very stressed, especially when you're trying to deal a cancer diagnosis.  We also have more advice on coping with financial difficulties - practically and emotionally.

If you need help, or just want to talk about your concerns, contact our Support Line on 1800 200 700. Our cancer nurses can advise you on practical supports and benefits, and tell you about services to help you cope with stress such as free counselling.

Life insurance

For more information on life insurance, including the best way to go about making an application, read our guide to Life Insurance and Cancer.

Travel insurance

For more information on travel insurance, including hints and tips on looking for travel insurance, read our guide to Travel Insurance and Cancer.

Useful contacts for financial information and support

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• Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection / Tel:  0818 662 244 
• HSE Live / Tel: 1800 700 700
• Your local health office
• A hospital-based medical social worker. If there is no medical social worker in your hospital, speak to your cancer nurse. 
• Citizens' Information / Tel: 0761 074 000
• Cliona’s Foundation
  Practical financial advice for parents coping with a child with a life limiting illness
• Money Advice and Budgeting Services
• HSE Medical Card
• Keeping Well and Warm
• Keeping Well and Warm brochure
• Self Employed Supports
• Keeping your Home
• Society of St. Vincent De Paul
• Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed
• Community Law and Mediation
• Threshold