Releasing HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) accounts after a death
How to notify HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) of a death and release any accounts, policies, or balances held by the deceased. Typical response times, documentation required, and common issues.
About HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme)
HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) is an Irish government agency. If the deceased held an account, policy, investment, or obligation with HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme), it must be notified of the death and any balance released to the estate through the Grant of Probate.
How to notify HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) of a death
Step 1: Write to HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) enclosing a certified copy of the death certificate. Standard notification-of-death letters are accepted by every Irish institution. The letter should include the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, last address, and the Medical card number or PPS number if known. A sample letter is included in the ProbatePack Notification Pack and Preparation Pack.
Step 2: Request written confirmation of the balance, value, or amount held at the date of death. This written figure is what goes on the Revenue SA2 Statement of Affairs. Current balance (today) is not enough; you need the date-of-death figure specifically.
Step 3: Wait for response. HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme)'s typical response time is 2 to 4 weeks. Follow up in writing at 3 weeks if nothing has arrived.
Contact details
Address: HSE
Primary Care Reimbursement Service
Exit 5, M50 North Road
Finglas
Dublin 11
D11 XKF3
Phone: 01 864 7100
Documents HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) will ask for
- Certified copy of the death certificate (not a photocopy).
- Photographic identification for the executor or administrator (passport or driver's licence).
- The Medical card number or PPS number if known. If not known, provide enough details for HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) to identify the deceased's record.
- At release stage (after the Grant issues): a certified copy of the Grant of Probate or Grant of Administration.
Typical timeline
Initial notification to HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme): 3 to 5 working days for acknowledgement of receipt. Written balance confirmation at date of death: 2 to 4 weeks typically. Full release of assets following receipt of the Grant: 2 to 4 weeks.
Common issues
- Joint accounts. Where the deceased held an account jointly with a surviving spouse or partner, most accounts pass by survivorship and are not part of the estate. The surviving account holder should notify HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) of the death and request the account to be transferred into their sole name.
- Direct debits and standing orders. HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) will usually ask whether to cancel outgoing payments from the deceased's accounts. Check first whether each is a legitimate estate expense (utility bill, insurance premium) that the executor may want to continue paying.
- Online access. HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme)'s online banking or online account access typically closes on notification of death. Any digital records required for the estate administration should be printed or saved before notification if possible.
- Small Estates. For balances below €25,000, some institutions release without requiring a Grant of Probate under the Small Estates procedure. This is at the institution's discretion, not a legal right.
How ProbatePack helps with HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme)
The Preparation Pack (€229) produces a pre-personalised notification letter to HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme), ready to sign and post, and records the response in the Asset Tracker so you know exactly when each institution replied and what balance they confirmed. The Complete Bundle (€449) adds the full inheritance-tax layer on top, including the CAT calculator and the Dwelling House Exemption assessment, for estates that will cross the Group A threshold.
How HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) fits into the wider probate process
Notifying HSE (medical card, drug payment scheme) is one step in the full Irish probate sequence. The executor also has to prepare the application for the Probate Office, complete the SA2 Statement of Affairs on Revenue myAccount, and assess the inheritance tax position against the 2026 CAT thresholds. See the full list of 25 Irish institution guides for the other institutions the estate may need to notify, and the pre-lodgement checklist for the six steps that must be complete before the papers reach the registry.
Related institution guides
What to do next
A personalised diagnostic report telling you in plain English whether you need probate, whether you can do it yourself, what it will cost, how much inheritance tax the family will owe, and what to do in the next 14 days. If you later upgrade, we take €50 off the next pack.