Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
88 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons over 70 who have received medical cards and who would not have qualified on income grounds at the latest date for which figures are available; the cost of extending medical cards to the over 70s and the way in which this compares with the original estimate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26339/04]
View answer182 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons over 70 years of age currently covered by a medical card; the number of persons over 70 in actual possession of a medical card; the number of persons over 70 who are covered by medical cards at present who would ordinarily qualify for a medical card on purely income grounds and the number who would not; the number of persons over 70 who were in possession of a medical card and covered by a medical card on income grounds immediately prior to the introduction of automatic medical card cover for the over-70s in 2001; the estimated approximate cost to the Exchequer of medical card cover for the over 70s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26653/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 182 together.
It is not possible to give a breakdown of the numbers of persons to whom medical cards were allocated under the Government decision, in respect of statutory automatic eligibility for persons aged 70 years and over which came into effect from 1 July 2001, in the manner requested by the Deputies. Since that date persons, in this age category, no longer have to give details of their income to the local health board at the time of their application for a medical card. Applications for medical cards for persons aged 70 years and over are made on simplified application forms which are accompanied by proof of age. However, the number of persons who are covered with the 'higher rate' medical card as opposed to those on the ordinary rate card gives a close approximation of the figures. The following table outlines the position in relation to the number of persons aged 70 years and over who held and were covered by a medical card for October 2004 and June 2001.
|
Persons aged 70 years and over |
October 2004 |
June 2001 |
|
No. of persons covered by the medical card* |
316,618 |
258,183 |
|
No. at higher capitation rate |
111,065 |
None |
|
No. at ordinary rate |
205,553 |
258,183 |
* The cost of medical card coverage to persons aged 70 years and over in 2003 was €152.759 million in respect of doctors and pharmacists fees and drugs and medicines. The additional annual cost of providing medical cards to all persons aged 70 years and over was estimated at €51million in April 2002. The 2002 estimate of cost proved to be significantly understated because of discrepancies in the medical card data base for 2001 which subsequently came to light.
