Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 2

Written Answers. - Medical Card Eligibility.

Noel Ahern

Question:

77 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the age categories of over 95 years, 90 to 95, 85 to 90, 80 to 85 who do not qualify for medical cards; and the estimated annual cost to give a medical care as a right to persons over 90 years and 80 years. [14842/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The General Medical Services (Payments) Board compiles statistics on the number of persons with medical card eligibility in the various age categories. By comparing this statistical information with the published Census figures it should be possible to give an indication of the number of persons in the age categories referred to by the Deputy who are not in receipt of a medical card. However, given that the published Census figures relate to 1991 and that the statistics from the payments board are current, it is not possible to provide the precise information requested by the Deputy. However, the following table sets out the number of persons who have medical cards in the age groups referred to by the Deputy:

Age Group	Number of persons with medical cards
80-85	49,133
85-90	23,882
90-95	7,683
95 and over	1,387
Total	82,085

It is estimated that the average cost of providing general medical services to those aged 65 years and over is approximately £320 per person per annum.

Entitlement to health services in Ireland is based on means. Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive office of the appropriate health board, are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner medical and surgical 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 guidelines are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. These guidelines are higher for persons aged 66 to 79 and higher again for those aged 80 and over. However, the 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.

In view of this special provision, I do not think that it is justifiable to extend an automatic entitlement to a medical card to all citizens aged 80 and over, without reference to their means, particularly in view of the many areas of pressing need in the health services and the limited resources available to meet them.

Every person who is in genuine need of a medical card must, of course, receive one and I am satisfied that the health boards give sympathetic consideration to applications made on the grounds of special needs.