asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to he anomalous situation which exists whereby recipients of EC health eligibility cards are liable for health contributions, youth employment and income levies despite the fact that their incomes may be within the income guidelines for an Irish medical card; and the action he proposes to take to eliminate this anomaly.
Written Answers. - EC Health Eligibility Cards.
198.
Medical cards are issued on a means test basis under section 45 of the Health Act, 1970, to persons who in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board are unable without undue hardship to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants. Such persons are exempt from payment of health contributions.
Persons resident in Ireland who are in receipt of a social security pension from another member state of the EC and are not also in receipt of pension from the Department of Social Welfare in Ireland or are not employed or self-employed in Ireland, are entitled to the full range of health services free of charge under EC Regulations irrespective of means. These people are given medical cards as proof of their entitlement to health services but they are not automatically exempt from payment of health contributions.
However, if their income is under the guidelines for the issue of medical cards under section 45 of the Health Act, 1970, they are of course eligible for medical cards which would exempt them from these charges.