asked the Minister for Health if State or other pensions will be subject to the 1 per cent health contribution and, if so, the pensions involved.
Written Answers. - Health Contributions.
301.
Under the Health Contribution Act, 1979, every individual over 16 years of age with an income, regardless of source, is obliged to pay a health contribution at the rate of 1 per cent of income assessable to income tax, subject to a maximum of £55 contribution per year. There are certain exceptions to this provision, including medical card holders, and these are set out in section 11 (2) of the Act. Persons with widows' pensions and persons in receipt of the other payments mentioned in section 11 (2) are excluded from paying a contribution in respect of any income. It should also be noted that where a person has no other income apart from social welfare contributory or non-contributory pensions he will be entitled to a medical card as these pensions fall short of the income guidelines for full eligibility for health services.