Vol. 536 No. 2
307 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if the spouse of a person aged 70 years of age or over will, in all circumstances, enjoy medical card cover from July 2001 onwards; and if not, the circumstances under which cover will not be available to spouses who are not 70 years of age. [13905/01]
In the budget 2001 package, this Government announced its intention to extend the eligibility for medical cards to all persons aged 70 years and over regardless of means or hardship with effect on 1 July 2001. Spouses of those aged 70 years or over will not have automatic entitlement unless they too qualify on age grounds or are deemed eligible for a medical card by the health board chief executive officers in the usual manner.
