Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jan 1996

Vol. 460 No. 3

Written Answers. - Income Guidelines for Medical Cards.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

197 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the income guidelines from each health board for the issue of medical cards giving the 1995 rate and the revised rate for 1996 in respect of a single person, married couple and allowances, including all details in respect of the assessment of farm stock and crops. [1333/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): 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 of the health boards to assist in the determination of a person's medical card eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. 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. Assessment procedures are also a matter for the chief executive officers.

The following table sets out the income guidelines used by the eight health boards, in 1995 and at present, in the assessment of applications for medical cards. Figures given relate to gross income per week less PRSI deduction.

	1995	1996
	£	£
Single person living alone (under 66)	84.50	86.50
Single person living alone (66-79)	92.50	94.50
Single person living alone (80 or over)	96.50	99.00
Single person living with family (under 66)	74.50	76.50
Single person living with family (66-79)	79.50	81.50
Single person living with family (80 or over)	82.50	84.50
Married couple (under 66)	122.50	125.50
Married couple (66-79)	137.00	140.50
Married couple (80 or over)	144.00	147.50
Allowance for each child under 16	14.50	15.00
Allowance for other dependants	16.00	16.50
Allowance for house expenses: (e.g. rent, mortage) — figure over	14.50	15.00
Allowance for cost of travelling to work:
Cost allowed per week over	13.00	13.50

At present, farmers applying for a medical card are given the option of having their income assessed on a factual basis (in which case a full set of farm accounts must be supplied) or under the standard notional system based on the Teagasc guidelines. In applying the latter guidelines health boards take account of the advice of Teagasc as to the allowance to be made for local variations in agricultural conditions. Regard may also be had to the land letting value prevailing in the area.

A working group on medical card eligibility has been established and this meets regularly to ensure uniformity and consistency in all areas as regards assessment of the income of medical card applicants. The method of assessing farmers is among the matters currently being considered by the group and any adjustments which may be considered necessary to this method, in the interest of equity, will be made.