Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2009
202 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children the sanctions specified in legislation to be applied to those who were automatically granted over 70 years medical cards and subsequently failed to inform her Department that their incomes exceeded the new income limits introduced in January 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47154/09]
View answerThe Health Act 2008 provided for the removal of the automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over. A new and much simplified system of assessment for eligibility was introduced in respect of persons aged 70 and over, based on gross income rather than net income, as applies otherwise for means-testing of eligibility for medical cards. The simplified approach taken for persons aged 70 and over who held a medical card prior to 31st December 2008 is close to a self-assessment system. In introducing the measures, I emphasised my belief in the honesty and integrity of the vast majority of older persons in our society.
There are measures in the legislation that allow for the sharing of data between State agencies and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to allow the HSE to verify in any particular case if the person has income, as declared, under the gross income limit. Long-standing provisions of the Health Act 1970, as amended, continue to apply. For instance, there is a requirement for a person to notify the HSE of any change in his/her circumstances which would render him/her ineligible for services. In addition, when a person has obtained a service and it is later ascertained that he/she was not entitled to the service, the HSE may charge the individual for any services provided to him/her for the period for which he/she had no entitlement.
The Health Act 2008 provides that the HSE shall provide any necessary supports to any person aged 70 or over in the making of an application for a medical card where, by reason of any incapacity, such person requests such assistance.
