Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 3

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Willie Penrose

Question:

217 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children when the chief executive officer of the health boards will be informed of the new guidelines for granting medical cards to people over 70; when these guidelines will operate from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6499/99]

Paul McGrath

Question:

231 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the new income limits for medical card eligibility; the date those income limits will come into force; and if all health boards have been informed of the changes. [5845/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 231 together.

Under the Health Act, 1970, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Income guidelines have been drawn up by the chief executive officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility. The following table sets out the income guidelines for medical card entitlement which came into effect on 1 March 1999. The guidelines for persons aged 70 years or over have been increased by one third. The previous increase was in January 1999 in line with the consumer price index.

Medical Card Income Guidelines

(With Effect from 1 March 1999)

	Per Week
Single Person Living Alone	£
Aged up to 66 years	92.00
Aged between 66-99 years	100.00
Aged between 70-79 years	133.00
Aged 80 years and over	140.00
Single Person Living with Family
Aged up to 66 years	81.50
Aged between 66-69 years	86.50
Aged between 70-79 years	115.00
Aged 80 years and over	120.00
Married Couple
Aged up to 66 years	133.00
Aged between 66-69 years	149.00
Aged between 70-79 years	199.90
Aged 80 years and over	209.00
Allowances
For child under 16 years	16.00
For dependant over 16 years with no income maintained by applicant	17.50
For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of.....	16.00
Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of	14.50

Persons aged 16-25 dependent on their parents will not be entitled to a medical card unless their parents also hold a medical card.

Persons with no income other than:

Old Age non-contributory pension (maximum), Deserted Wife's Allowance, Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Allowances, Disability Allowance, Lone Parent's Allowance (max.), Single Woman's Allowance (max.), Widow's (non-contributory) Allowance (max.), Orphans (non-contributory) Allowance (max.), Blind (non-contributory) Allowance (max.), Supplementary Welfare Allowance

will be regarded as being eligible for a medical card. Hardship cases are dealt with individually on merit.