Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
1573. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health his views on the substantial increase in the number of persons being refused medical cards and replaced by a GP card; the number of persons, broken down by constituency, who have had medical cards refused, and, of those the number who were subsequently provided with a GP card in its place. [38629/13]
View answerMedical cards are provided to persons who, under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, are in the opinion of the HSE unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. Under the legislation, determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE.
In the interest of probity, the HSE is obliged to ensure that a person’s eligibility is correctly recorded in line with the eligibility legislation and the national guidelines. Over 70's medical cards are therefore reviewed every 4 years, and under 70's medical cards are reviewed every 3 years. The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to the medical card or the GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of their entitlement.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of persons refused medical cards which were subsequently replaced by GP cards, by constituency, is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
