Medical Card Delays

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Questions (230)

Ann Phelan

Question:

230. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the renewal of medical cards, whereby a person may have been requested to pay for their medication and general practitioner services in the interim while the card is being renewed; if current medical cards may be used in the interim of persons have actively sought to renew their card, even though the card has effectively expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45473/12]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under a new procedure, a medical card will remain valid, irrespective of the expiry date shown on the card, once the medical card holder is genuinely engaging with the HSE review process. The medical card status of an individual can be confirmed by any doctor or pharmacist in their practice or pharmacy, or by the medical card holders themselves either on-line at www.medicalcard.ie or through their GP's practice system.