Liz McManus
Question:125 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost of extending the medical card scheme to 70,000 persons in one year. [30677/04]
View answerWednesday, 24 November 2004
Questions (133)
Written answers
The cost of extending the medical card scheme would depend on the groups to which eligibility were to be extended and the category of card to be issued. On the basis of a standard medical card, the approximate cost of extending the scheme to 70,000 persons in a full year would be in the region of €70 million. This figure includes the costs of payments to GMS general practitioners, drugs and medicines and fees to pharmacists. There would also be other associated costs with a standard medical card, such as the dental and ophthalmic schemes. On the basis of a doctor visit card, as announced by me in the context of the 2005 Estimates, the approximate cost of an additional 70,000 cards would be in the region of €17.5 million in a full year. These are prospective costings based on the implementation of such changes with effect from 2005 onwards. The estimates above assume no change in existing fee arrangements.