Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 June 2013
211. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if will estimate the cost of extending full medical card cover to all children who currently hold a general practitioner visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28503/13]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health Acts medical cards and GP visit cards are provided to persons primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There are no plans to extend full medical card cover to holders of GP Visit Cards, irrespective of the age of the holder. The estimated cost of such an extension for children under 16 years would be in excess of €30 million.
