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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 2

Written Answers. - Medical Card Guidelines.

Mary Wallace

Question:

97 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he will review the means test criteria applying to the over 66 age group and the over 79 age group to reflect the greater requirement for medical attention in those age groups.

Richard Bruton

Question:

99 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce modified medical card income guidelines which would allow persons seeking a medical card in respect of just one family member who is suffering from a chronic medical condition to be assessed on more relaxed income guidelines.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 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 drawn up by the Chief Executive Officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with the Consumer Price Index. The guidelines are higher for persons aged 66 to 79 and higher again for those aged 80 and over. 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. Similarly, a medical card can be awarded to an individual member of the family, where the circumstances warrant it.

The income guidelines therefore are not the sole determinant of whether a person receives a medical card and I am satisfied that the health boards give sympathetic consideration to applications made on the grounds of special medical needs. In view of this I do not consider it necessary for health boards to review the means test criteria applying to pensioners or to introduce modified income guidelines for any particular category.

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