A prescription does not automatically mean a medicine is funded. Check the exact medicine, reason for treatment and any individual approval before budgeting for support.
1. HSE reimbursement
The HSE obesity guide currently lists Wegovy and Mounjaro as not covered by the medical card, Long-Term Illness Scheme or Drugs Payment Scheme for this route. Saxenda has a managed-access route with specific criteria and an individual application by the treating clinician; it is not universal coverage.
The NCPE adult Wegovy assessment is ongoing at this check. An assessment is not confirmation of HSE funding, and gives no guaranteed access date.
Sources: HSE obesity medicines, HSE managed-access protocols, NCPE adult Wegovy assessment.
2. Medical card or DPS
The €80 monthly DPS threshold applies to approved medicines and appliances. It does not turn an uncovered private prescription into a covered one. Having a medical card also does not override medicine-specific reimbursement rules.
Ask your pharmacist to confirm whether your exact prescription qualifies under your scheme and whether approval is needed. Check consultation fees separately.
Sources: HSE Drugs Payment Scheme and medicine-specific coverage.
3. Private health insurance
Cover for your particular policy has not been verified here. Ask your insurer for written confirmation of consultation, tests, programme and medicine cover separately before paying. Do not count a possible refund as confirmed savings.
Give the insurer the provider name and service description through its secure channel. Ask about recognised practitioners, referral or pre-authorisation requirements, excesses, annual limits and exclusions. Keep the response with your policy documents and itemised receipts; do not send them to GLP-1.ie.
4. Health-expense tax relief
Revenue lists doctor services and prescribed medicines among qualifying health expenses. Relief is generally 20% of qualifying costs you paid yourself, excluding amounts reimbursed or due from insurance, the HSE or another source. You must have paid tax in the relevant year to benefit; a refund is not guaranteed.
For example, €100 of qualifying expense less a €40 insurance reimbursement leaves €60: 20% is €12, subject to your tax position. This is an illustration, not a treatment price or confirmation that every programme charge qualifies.
Sources: Revenue relief rules and qualifying expenses.