Eamon Gilmore
Question:163 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to add Crohn's Disease to the list of long term illnesses for medical card purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5000/02]
Written Answers. - Long-Term Illness Scheme.
The long-term illness scheme entitles persons to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of a specific schedule of illnesses. There are no plans to amend the scheme to include Crohn's disease, having regard to the other schemes available to help people with the cost of drugs and medicines.
People who are unable without undue hardship to arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide. In determining eligibility for a medical card, the chief executive officer has regard to the financial circumstances of the applicant. Income guidelines are used by health boards to assist in determining a person's eligibility. However, even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, the person may still be awarded a medical card if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis.
Non-medical card holders and people with conditions other than those covered under the long-term illness scheme can avail of the drug payment scheme. Under the drug payment scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €53.33 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.