Over 2,200 additional people in Clare qualified for a medical card in 2022.
The latest figures from the HSE show more than 41,500 people in this county were in possession of a medical card in December.
There were a total of 41,543 medical card holders in Clare in December.
This compares to the 39,311 in possession of the card last December – a rise of 5.5%, meaning 2,232 additional people qualified for the scheme this year.
The majority of those eligible in Clare are 75 years and over, with nearly 7,300 people in this cohort.
This is followed by nearly 4,900 adults between 55 and 65 years of age.
The number of people with a GP visit card in Clare also rose this year.
350 additional people qualified this year, with plans under Budget 2023 to include people on or below the median income from April.
12,221 adults and children in the banner currently have access to free GP visits under this scheme.
