Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
663 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if every cancer patient is entitled to a medical card regardless of whether he or she works full-time or not; and if he will outline the details for full-time working cancer patients. [9726/12]
View answerEligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits, and is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services to themselves and their dependents without undue hardship. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons who have cancer.
There is a provision for discretion to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship" where the income guidelines are exceeded. The HSE recently set up a clinical panel to assist in the processing of applications for discretionary medical cards where there are difficult personal circumstances. There is an emergency process for a person who is terminally ill, or in urgent need of medical attention and cannot afford to pay for it, that provides a card within 24 hours while the normal application process is completed. Once a letter from the patient's GP or consultant is received, stating that the person is terminally ill, and the required personal details are provided an emergency card is issued to that person for a six-month period.
It is the Government's intention to extend free GP services to the entire population during the course of this Government.
664 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9729/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
