Prescription charges for medical card holders were increased in Budget 2014 from €1.50 per item to €2.50 per item – that is an increase of 70%.
The monthly cap on prescription charges for a family was also increased from €19.50 to €25 (with medical card)
The increases came into effect from December 1st 2013
These changes are expected to cost people on medical cards an extra €43 Million a year.
When will prescription charge go up?
Dec 1st 2013
I am 63 with a genetic heart disease. I have to take medication every day to stay alive. I have no choice in this, other than to die.
The increase in prescription charges now means I will have to pay 5 euro for each prescription, from my invalidity pension which has already been cut twice recently.
I do not drink, I do not smoke, I never go on holiday. I did manage to work and pay my taxes until 4 years ago, when it finally got too bad and I had a heart failure.
There are many like myself that will suffer from this latest slap in the face. Why are smokers and drinker let off so lightly?