Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
220 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the circumstances in which UK pensioners resident here are entitled to medical cards; if such entitlement is automatic; and if not, to specify the necessary qualifying circumstances. [20604/04]
View answerPersons resident in Ireland who are in receipt of a social security pension from another EU member state, including the UK, and are not in receipt of a pension from the Irish Department of Social and Family Affairs, or are not employed or self employed in Ireland, are eligible to receive medical cards under EU regulations.
As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the delivery of health services in Ireland falls to seven regional health boards and one regional health authority. These bodies are the main providers of health services at regional level. Each health board-authority has a chief executive officer, CEO, who has responsibility for day-to-day administration of the services. Eligibility for health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means rather than payment of income tax or social insurance. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the health boards as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility — category 1, namely, medical card holders — or limited eligibility — namely category 2 — for health services. Health boards normally regard a person as ordinarily resident if she-he satisfies the health board that it is his-her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year.
Income guidelines are drawn up by the CEOs to assist in determining a person's eligibility for a medical card and these guidelines 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-her medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. All persons aged 70 or over are automatically eligible for a medical card, irrespective of their income. Persons who receive a medical card are entitled to a full range of services free of charge, including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service.
Alternatively, a person who is considered resident in Ireland may opt to take out private health insurance. The main private health insurance companies in Ireland are VHI and BUPA. Details of the health insurance schemes offered by each can be obtained by contacting the insurers directly or by contacting the Health Insurance Authority.
