Finian McGrath
Question:590 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if people with severe intellectual disabilities can be granted the medical card without having to renew them each term. [15970/03]
Written Answers. - Medical Cards.
Eligibility of an applicant for a medical card is determined by the chief executive officers of the relevant health board or authority. The income and medical need of the applicant are taken into account in this assessment. No person, other than those aged 70 years and over since July 2001, has automatic eligibility to a medical card. Periodic reviews of the medical card lists by health boards are necessary in order to ensure that the information kept on health board databases is accurate.