asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the present health legislation to ensure that a person qualifying for limited eligibility status for health services under the Health Act, 1970, as a result of being a voluntary contributor to April 1974 will be granted a permanent hospitals services card rather than having to reaply annually; and if he will make a statement on this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Services Cards.
6.
The issue of hospital services cards is an administrative arrangement and provides proof of entitlement to all limited eligibility services.
While such voluntary contributors are currently entitled to a hospital services card on a permanent basis, health boards generally consider that the current cover of the card should not extend beyond one year because of the possibility of changes in the circumstances of holders such as death or eligibility for a general medical services card. The dependants of such persons could lose entitlement on the death of such a hospital services card holder.
I do not consider that the requirement to apply annually for renewal of hospital services cards is a serious inconvenience.
In view of the small number of people who qualify for special eligibility status, will the Minister agree that a lot of money is wasted on the administration involved in the issuing of annual hospital services cards? Will the Minister consider granting such people cards for life?
I am aware that the Southern Health Board issue three-year cards. I will declare my interest, I happen to be one of those eligible persons. There are only a few thousands of us left.
The Minister should hang on in there.
I have a full hospital services card despite my income. I would have difficulty getting health boards to issue permanent cards because if a card holder dies his or her dependant automatically lose eligibility. Quite a number of those people might, if their income status suddenly changed, become eligible for an ordinary medical card and, as such, would be covered on a different basis. If there are any special cases the Deputy is concerned about — for example in regard to an elderly person — I am prepared to take them up with the health board concerned. I understand that there are about 2,000 people in this category. I can imagine an elderly person being upset at having to apply annually for a card.
Will it be possible to accommodate those people rather than putting them to this annual inconvenience? It is costing the State money in administration.
With computerisation there is no reason why health boards could not deal with this matter in a better way. The big problem about those people is that frequently the staff of health boards do not accept that there are voluntary contributors with full eligibility, irrespective of income. Frequently, they contend that there is no such grade and they have to be reminded of the position.
Will the Minister direct health boards to change the system.
I do not like directing people to give me a hospital services card for life.