asked the Minister for Health, if he will set out in tabular form for each year since 1972 the total cost of the general medical scheme, the income eligibility limits under the scheme, any additions to the categories of persons eligible, the numbers of persons eligible, and the proportion of the population so eligible.
Written Answers. - General Medical Scheme.
535.
The information requested by the Deputy is as set out below:
|
Year |
Cost £ |
Number of persons eligible |
Proportion of Population eilgible eligible (December) |
|
1972/73 |
7.45m |
864,106 |
29.0% |
|
1973/74 |
10.75m |
1,010,090 |
33.92% |
|
1974 (1/4/74-31/12/74) |
12.53m |
1,083,136 |
36.37% |
|
1975 |
18.8m |
1,162,386 |
37.17% |
|
1976 |
32.0m |
1,193,909 |
37.75% |
|
1977 |
35.2m |
1,233,150 |
38.63% |
|
1978 |
44.52m |
1,219,178 |
37.86% |
|
1979 |
50.5m |
1,224,351 |
36.39% |
|
1980 |
56.0m |
1,199,599 |
35.62% |
|
1981 |
71.8m |
1,226,568 |
35.65% |
|
1982 |
92.0m |
1,280,758 |
37.13% |
|
1983 |
88.6m |
1,343,618 |
38.13% |
|
1984 |
(p)95.6m |
1,299,165 |
37.03% |
(p) Provisional figure.
Income Guidelines
|
Year |
Single person living alone |
Single person living with living with family |
Married couple |
Allowance for child |
Allowance for other dependants |
Age allowance |
Allowance for outgoings on house |
Travel allowance |
|
1972 |
Not standardised |
Excess |
||||||
|
1973 |
Not standardised |
over |
||||||
|
1974 |
14.00 |
12.00 |
20.00 |
1.75 |
2.75 |
From 1/7/84 over 66 and under 80 years £5 (£10 if married) over 80 years £8 (£16 if married) |
2.00 |
Reasonable expenses incurred in travelling to work |
|
1.1.1975 |
17.00 |
14.75 |
24.50 |
2.75 |
3.25 |
2.25 |
||
|
1.7.1975 |
19.00 |
16.50 |
27.50 |
2.50 |
3.50 |
2.50 |
||
|
1976 |
19.50 |
17.00 |
28.25 |
2.60 |
3.75 |
2.60 |
||
|
1977 |
23.50 |
20.50 |
34.00 |
3.10 |
4.50 |
3.10 |
||
|
1978 |
26.00 |
22.50 |
37.50 |
3.50 |
5.00 |
3.50 |
||
|
1979 |
28.00 |
24.00 |
40.50 |
4.00 |
5.50 |
4.00 |
||
|
1980 |
32.50 |
28.00 |
47.00 |
5.00 |
6.50 |
5.00 |
||
|
1981 |
38.50 |
33.00 |
55.50 |
6.00 |
7.50 |
6.00 |
||
|
1982 |
47.50 |
40.50 |
68.50 |
7.50 |
9.00 |
7.50 |
||
|
1983 |
53.50 |
45.50 |
77.00 |
8.50 |
10.00 |
8.50 |
||
|
1984 |
59.00 |
50.00 |
85.00 |
9.50 |
11.00 |
9.50 |
Excess over £7.50 per week |
|
|
1985 |
63.00 |
53.50 |
90.50 |
10.00 |
11.50 |
10.00 |
Excess over £8.50 per week |
Additional Categories of Persons eligible for Medical Cards.
From 1973 certain social security pensioners from other EC countries and families of persons insured in other EC countries became eligible for medical cards arising out of EC regulations. These regulations were extended to the self-employed with effect from 1 July 1982.
From 1 July 1982 a concession was made to all persons aged 66 or over who were recipients of social welfare pensions whereby their eligibility for medical cards was determined without reference to the income guidelines. This concession was rescinded in February 1983.