Paul McGrath
Question:691 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the new income guidelines which apply to medical card applications; and when these new guidelines will come into force. [2026/01]
Written Answers. - Medical Cards.
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 are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. The revised guidelines requested by the Deputy came into effect on 1 January and are as follows:
|
Single person living alone (under 66) |
£100.00 |
|
Single person living alone (66-69) |
£109.00 |
|
Single person living alone (70-79) |
£180.00 |
|
Single person living alone (80 or over) |
£190.00 |
|
Single person living with family (under 66) |
£89.00 |
|
Single person living with family (66-69) |
£94.00 |
|
Single person living with family (70-79) |
£156.00 |
|
Single person living with family (80 or over) |
£163.00 |
|
Married couple (under 66) |
£144.50 |
|
Married couple (66-69) |
£162.00 |
|
Married couple (70-79) |
£270.00 |
|
Married couple (80 or over) |
£284.00 |
|
Allowance for each child under 16 |
£18.00 |
|
Allowance for other dependants |
£19.00 |
|
Allowance for house expenses: (e.g. rent, mortgage) – in excess of |
£18.00 |
|
Allowance for cost of travelling to work:Cost allowed per week over |
£16.00 |
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government 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 stage will be implemented in March 2001. In the budget 2001 package, this Government announced its intention to extend the eligibility for a medical card to all persons over the age of 70 regardless of income to come into effect on 1 July 2001.