Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 5

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

123 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that standard administrative practice up to this point in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area has been to award medical cards to couples who satisfied the income guidelines based on the income guidelines applicable to the elder of the couple; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that in many cases the decision not to include dependants of over-70s in the new medical card scheme for over-seventies will disqualify dependants of a spouse who are under 70 but who previously would have qualified under the old scheme; if he will reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18435/01]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

124 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the income limits which will apply to medical card applicants whose spouses are over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18436/01]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

126 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has secured agreement in relation to the extension of medical cards to all over-70s; if the commencement order allowing health boards to proceed with applications has been made; if not, when the order will be made; if medical expenses incurred due to the delay will be reimbursed; if his attention has been drawn to the confusion which now exists among persons over 70 years of age in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18441/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 124 and 126 together.

I should begin by pointing out that the initiative announced in the budget, and subsequently enacted in the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2001, providing automatic eligibility for medical cards to all persons aged 70 and over is wholly consistent with the overall approach taken by this Government to improve the position of the elderly. It was also the logical conclusion of the three year programme of doubling the medical card income limits for persons in that age category. Equally importantly, it should be emphasised that the introduction of this automatic medical card eligibility provision was not done at the expense of any other groups in Irish society. I want to make it clear that no person or group will find themselves disadvantaged from their current eligibility as result of this new measure.

The budget measure confers a new right to automatic eligibility for medical cards for persons aged 70 and older only. If a person in that age category has a spouse also in that age category then both individuals will have the same automatic eligibility right. If, however, the spouse or other dependants are below the age of 70, then the person aged 70 or more may continue to apply in the normal way, as at present, for a means tested medical card to cover him or her and a spouse or other dependants. The fact that the applicant is covered by the automatic eligibility provision would not affect the consideration of such an application to the detriment of the spouse or any dependants.

The medical card limits applying in the above situation are not affected by the budget measure on automatic eligibility. Indeed, they have been enhanced since 1 March of this year by the final phase of the doubling of income limits.

The negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on the implementation of the automatic provision are progressing and I am hopeful that agreement on outstanding issues will be reached in the very near future.

Having regard to that consideration, I have not, as yet, made the commencement order provided for in the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

Finally, I am conscious of the fact that there is a need to promote greater awareness of the new automatic eligibility for benefiting persons. My Department and health boards have dealt with a number of inquiries and have kept callers fully informed of the situation. In addition, as part of a more pro-active campaign, I have raised with the Office of Health Gain the matter of a national information programme that will get under way when the remaining outstanding matters are resolved.