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Drugs Payment Scheme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2005

Tuesday, 1 February 2005

Questions (136)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

134 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will address the anomaly whereby full-time students over 23 and living at home with their families are considered as dependants for medical card qualification, whereas they cannot be included as part of the family for the drugs payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2721/05]

View answer

Written answers

People aged 16 to 25, including students, who are financially dependent on their parents are entitled to a medical card if their parents are medical card holders. Dependants of non-medical card holders are not normally entitled to a medical card except where they have an entitlement under EU regulations or where they are in receipt of a disability allowance.

Students who are financially independent of their parents are entitled to apply for a medical card in their own right and are assessed on the same criteria as all other applicants. The decision on whether a person is regarded as a dependant or as financially independent is made by the chief officer of the relevant Health Service Executive area, based on the circumstances of the individual case.

Anyone who does not have a medical card is eligible for the drugs payment scheme. Under the scheme no individual or family pays more than €85 per month for approved prescribed medicines, while the State pays the balance. Dependants for the purposes of the monthly threshold include the spouse and any children under 18 years. A dependant with a physical disability or a mental handicap or illness who cannot maintain himself or herself fully, who is ordinarily resident in the family home and who does not hold a current medical card, may be included in the family expenditure, regardless of age. Dependants over 18 and under 23 who are in full-time education are also included. The upper age limit is in keeping with family law legislation. People over the age of 18 who are not in full-time education, or who are over the age of 23 years and are in full-time education, and who are not eligible for a medical card can avail of the drugs payment scheme in their own right. I have no plans to amend the conditions of the drugs payment scheme for dependants and inclusion in the monthly threshold.

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