Under the Health Act 2008, the income thresholds for entitlement to a medical card for those aged 70 and over are €700 (gross) per week (€36,500 per year) for a single person and €1,400 (gross) per week (€73,000 per year) for a couple (married couples and couples living together as husband and wife).
Persons aged 70 or over, whose gross income is above the stated thresholds, may, depending on their personal circumstances, still qualify for a medical card or a GP visit card under the standard means-testing arrangements which exist at present. The purpose of requesting proof of house insurance from persons making applications for medical cards is to assist in determining a person's net income, as per the medical card guidelines. Some housing costs such as house insurance costs, can be offset against an applicant's income and improve their chances of qualifying for a medical card.