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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Feb 2002

Vol. 547 No. 3

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Seán Haughey

Question:

246 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the income guidelines for eligibility for medical cards in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3579/02]

The medical card income guidelines issued by the chief executive officers of the health boards for 2002 are:

Medical card income guidelines effective from 1 January 2002 (gross income less PRSI deductions)

Per week

Single person living alone (under 66)

132.00

Single person living alone (66-69)

144.00

Single person living alone (70-79)

285.00

Single person living alone (80 or over)

300.50

Single person living with family (under 66)

117.00

Single person living with family (66-69)

124.00

Single person living with family (70-79)

246.50

Single person living with family (80 or over)

258.00

Married couple (under 66)

190.50

Married couple (66-69)

214.00

Married couple (70-79)

427.00

Married couple (80 or over)

449.00

Allowance for each child under 16

24.00

Allowance for other dependants

25.00

Allowance for house expenses: (e.g. rent, mortgage) – in excess of

24.00

Allowance for cost of travelling to work: Cost allowed per week over

21.00

Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on means. Under the Health Act, 1970, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Other than for persons aged 70 years and over who are automatically entitled to a medical card, 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. However, the guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that his or her medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. It is open to all persons to apply to the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship.
The issue of eligibility was considered in the context of the new national health strategy, Quality and Fairness, A Health System For You, launched by the Government. The strategy outlines a number of measures designed to improve eligibility for health services which the Government has committed itself to introducing over a number of years. Amongst the measures proposed is an increase in access to medical cards. In addition to the recent extension of eligibility to all persons aged 70 years and over, the strategy includes a commitment that significant improvements will be made in the income guidelines in order to increase the number of persons on low incomes who are eligible for a medical card and to give priority to families with children and particularly children with a disability.
To ensure that no one is disadvantaged by increases in social welfare rates, my Department has advised the health board chief executive officers last year and again this year that medical card holders should not lose their cards because of increases in social welfare payments announced in the budget.
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