asked the Minister for Health if he will give an assurance that in the case of persons aged 80 years or over who apply for medical cards the means test will be waived.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards Means Test.
23.
It is the statutory function of the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to determine whether or not any particular person is entitled to receive a medical card. Before issuing a medical card the chief executive officer must establish whether the applicant is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself and his dependants. It is therefore necessary to examine the applicant's means.
Where an applicant is in receipt of social assistance following a means test he is normally regarded as being entitled to a medical card without further assessment. Thus a person with a non-contributory old age pension would get a medical card without a further means test.