The financial cost to patients of visiting a GP in Ireland: a cross-sectional survey.
Future general practice funding is much debated but public opinion has not previously been reported. To survey public opinion on existing fee structures in general practice and on an insurance-based primary care scheme that would entitle members to free GP services at the point of use, upon payment of an annual premium. An interviewer administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey in four locations: Dublin north city; Dublin south city; Dublin suburban; and a rural town centre. Of 384 people surveyed, 83% had visited a GP in the previous year, and 79% usually paid for consultations. The median fee was IEP20.00. Almost 50% felt that this was excessive. Of those who did not have to pay, 91% expressed willingness to pay (median IEP15.00). Sixty-two per cent had medical insurance and 83% said they would be willing to join an insurance-based primary care scheme. The amount people would pay to join this scheme exceeded what interviewees were currently paying for general practice services. There is dissatisfaction with existing GP fees and support for a scheme entitling free primary care. The amount of money people are willing to pay exceeds their current annual expenditure on GP services.