Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 5

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Richard Bruton

Question:

83 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the provision he has made in his Estimates for indexation of the income guidelines for medical cards for those aged under 70; the percentage index used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27124/00]

Richard Bruton

Question:

84 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has made provision in his Estimates for new announcements in relation to medical card eligibility; and the extra cost in a full year involved. [27125/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 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. Medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer, are unable to provide general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship.

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, which is the index used to calculate changes in medical card income guidelines. However, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guideline, a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that his/her medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. I am advised that revised guidelines for 2001 have not yet been determined by the chief executive officers.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government identified in its programme, An Action Programme for the Millennium, the need to review medical card eligibility for the elderly and large families and decided that the income guidelines for entitlement to medical cards for persons aged 70 years or over should be doubled. This improvement, which is being introduced over a three year period, began on 1 March 1999. The income guidelines for those aged 70 to 79 and 80 years and over, which are already higher than the normal guidelines increased by one-third in 1999. The second stage of this process was implemented on 1 March 2000 and the third and final stage will be implemented in March 2001. The sum of £4 million has been provided for in the 2001 abridged Book of Estimates which represents the expected costs to be incurred by the improvement of this scheme in 2001.

The latest agreement between the Government and the social partners, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, refers to the fact that health board chief executive officers are examining the operation of the medical card scheme and will consult with the social partners by the end of 2000. Particular emphasis will be placed on the needs of families with children, and on moving anomalies and barriers to take-up, including information deficits.