Vol. 427 No. 6
265 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the income limit for medical card holders to ensure that people with modest income are not denied access to health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
266 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health if he will grant medical cards to third level students who are suffering as they cannot afford health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
282 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will automatically grant a medical card to children suffering from severe disablement or ongoing medical conditions which require frequent medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 265, 266 and 282 together.
Under the Health Act, 1970 medical cards are issued 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.
Income guidelines are available to assist Chief Executive Officers in the determination of a person's eligibility and these are revised annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.
However, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, that person may still be awarded a medical card if the Chief Executive Officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. At present almost 36 per cent of the population hold medical cards.
Persons aged between 16 and 25 years, including students, who are dependants of a person who is not a medical card holder, are not normally entitled to a medical card except where they have an entitlement under EC regulations or where they are in receipt of a Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance. The decision on whether or not a person is regarded as a dependant or as being financially independent is made by the Chief Executive Officer of the health board on the basis of the circumstances of the individual case. Students who are financially independent are entitled to apply for medical cards and are assessed on the same income criteria as all other applicants.
