asked the Minister for Health if the 15p per week paid by insured workers for health services covers x-ray and pathological fees for the middle income group (out-patient).
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Service Contributions.
5.
The answer is in the affirmative.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if arrangements are being made to collect the £7 per year under the Health Contributions Act, 1971, from old age pensioners by reducing the pension by a weekly amount rather than demanding a lump sum payment of £7 each year.
There are no statutory powers to make reductions from old age pensions. I might mention, however, that non-contributory old age pensioners have full eligibility for health services and are not obliged to pay the contribution of £7 per annum.
Surely the Minister is aware that single old age pensioners who are just over the level find it extremely difficult to find £7 if their total income is only about £10 or £11 and would he not agree that it is ridiculous to suggest that they should be asked to pay, in a lump sum, £7 in order to qualify for something which most of them were receiving free up to this new arrangement?
As the Deputy knows, some contributory old age pensioners would, having regard to individual circumstances, be receiving medical cards and for others the Revenue Commissioners are prepared to accept the payment of the £7 in instalments although they do not encourage this.
Apart from the Revenue Commissioners and the Minister, does anybody else know they are prepared to accept payment by instalments? This is the first I have heard of it. Certainly, old age pensioners are not aware that they can pay in this way. Would the Minister take steps to have this brought to the notice of the people concerned?
I shall do so.
7.
asked the Minister for Health the sum collected by the 50p per day capitation charge for the middle income group in the last financial year in which it was applied; and the amount to be collected in a full year by the £7 per annum per person charge which replaced it.
The total income from the charges referred to by the Deputy was about £900,000 in the year to 31st March, 1970. Complete figures for the succeeding year are not yet available. The estimated total income in a full year from health contributions is about £5 million.