Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
47 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who held medical cards in June 2002 and at the latest date for which figures are available and the proportion of the population this represents in respect of each such date; when it is intended to implement the commitment to extend eligibility for medical cards so as to bring in over 200,000 extra persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15598/04]
View answerThe following is the information requested by the Deputy.
|
No. of persons covered by medical cards |
% of population |
|
|
June 2002 |
1,207,096 |
30.81% |
|
May 2004 |
1,154,861 |
29.48% |
The health strategy includes a commitment that significant improvements will be made in the medical card income guidelines to increase the number of persons on low income who are eligible for a medical card and to give priority to families with children, particularly children with a disability. This should be viewed in the broader context of the strategy's emphasis on fairness and its stated objective of reducing health inequalities in our society. I regret that it is not possible to meet this commitment this year but the Government remains committed to the introduction of the necessary changes within its term of office.
It should be remembered that health board chief executive officers have discretion on the issuing of medical cards and also that a range of income sources are excluded by the health boards when assessing medical card eligibility. Many allowances, such as carer's allowance, child benefit, domiciliary care allowance, family income supplement and foster care allowance, are all disregarded when determining a person's eligibility. Given these factors and the discretionary powers of the CEOs, having an income that exceeds the guidelines does not mean that a person will not be eligible for a medical card and a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that a person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. It is open to all persons to apply to the CEO of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship.
Non-medical card holders and people with conditions not covered under the long-term illness scheme can avail of the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €78 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
The strategy includes a series of initiatives to clarify and expand the existing arrangements for eligibility for health services, including recommendations arising from the review of the medical card scheme carried out by the health board CEOs under the PPF. These include: streamlining applications and improving the standardisation of the medical card applications process to ensure better fairness and transparency; providing clearer information to people about how and where to apply for medical cards; proactively seeking out those who should have medical cards to ensure they have access to the services that are available.
