Rory O'Hanlon
Question:155 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health the social welfare benefits and allowances which entitle a person to retain his/her general medical services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15206/96]
Written Answers. - Medical Card Retention.
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 to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines 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.
The chief executive officers of the health boards have agreed on a number of standardised procedures to ensure uniformity and consistency in all areas when the income of a medical card applicant is being assessed. Under these arrangements the following is excluded in assessing an applicant's income: child benefit, supplementary welfare allowance, family income supplement, domiciliary care allowance, foster care allowance, blind welfare allowance, Department of Defence service pensions 1916-1921, mobility allowance, weekly payments under the community employment programme, carer's allowance and back to work allowance.
Persons in receipt of non-contributory pensions are normally provided with medical cards without further assessment.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:156 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the scheme announced in the 1996 budget whereby holders of medical cards who secure a position of employment are entitled to hold their medical cards for a further period of time. [15219/96]
Limerick East): Arrangements have been put in place to enable persons who have been unemployed for at least one year to retain their medical cards for three years after entering employment as announced in the budget.