Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2013
231. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the processes that are in place to allow persons coming up to their seventieth birthday to make their applications for a medical card in advance of their birthday to ensure that they have the card in place by the time they turn 70; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33994/13]
View answerI am advised by the HSE that people can apply for a medical card in the months leading up to their seventieth birthday. The application will be assessed under the National Income Guidelines for Over 70’s and will be put on hold until the day of their seventieth birthday. On this day the client will be notified of the outcome of this assessment. The length of time that it takes for a client to receive a decision on their medical card application depends on (1) whether the client submitted a complete application or not, and (2) if not how quickly the applicant responds to the subsequent request for additional information. The Primary Care Reimbursement Services aims to process all medical cards within 15 days of receipt of the application.
