asked the Minister for Health whether in view of the rise in the cost of living he will consider raising the wage ceiling below which employed workers can get reduced hospital charges from £800 to £1,000 per annum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reduced Hospital Charges.
10.
The income limit for the purpose mentioned in the question was, under the Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act, 1958, increased from £600 to £800 as recently as December, 1958, co-incident with a corresponding increase in the income limit for insurability of non-manual workers under the Social Welfare code. There has not, since that date, been a change in any of the relevant factors which would, in my view, justify a further increase at this stage.
The Deputy will appreciate that any person insured under the Social Welfare code is entitled, per se, with his dependants, to the services mentioned. All manual workers employed under a contract of service are insurable under that code irrespective of income and so are eligible under the Health Acts. Further, by reason of an amendment in regard to family income made in the Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act, 1958, employed persons with family incomes up to £1,100 a year are eligible for the service in certain circumstances, even where they are not insurable under the Social Welfare Acts.
The position of employed workers under the Health Acts compares favourably with that of other sections of the community and if there were a case for a further revision in favour of such workers, it would not be equitable to give effect to such revision without making a corresponding revision in favour of the remaining classes.