Richard Bruton
Question:80 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allow two brothers or sisters who live together to submit joint claims for the purpose of the drugs refund scheme. [3782/00]
Written Answers. - Drugs Refund Scheme.
The new drug payment scheme, with a threshold of £42 per month per individual or family, was introduced on 1st July, 1999 and replaced the drug cost subsidisation scheme and drug refund scheme. The primary aim of the new drug payment scheme is to bring about important improvements over the previous schemes and the scheme is designed to be more streamlined, user friendly and to significantly improve the cash flow situation for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
For the purposes of the new scheme, dependants include spouse and children under 18 years. A dependant with a physical disability or a mental handicap or illness who cannot maintain himself or herself fully, who is ordinarily resident in the family home and who does not hold a current medical card, may be included in the family expenditure under this scheme regardless of age. Dependants over 18 years and under the age of 23 years who are in full time education are also included.