Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
1192. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if in the event of a person losing the medical card while in hospital, the person in question is liable for the inpatient charge from the day the card is lost; if so, if there is an obligation on the Health Service Executive or the hospital in question to inform the patient of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46757/13]
View answerAll medical card applicants are informed, by letter, of the outcome of their application and persons' eligibility is not removed without having been informed of such a decision. Those who are unsuccessful are given an explanation of the decision, including a detailed financial breakdown. The unsuccessful applicants are informed of their right to seek a review of the decision by the PCRS or to appeal the decision to the HSE Appeals Office. Where a person, who previously held a valid medical card or GP visit card submits an appeal to a decision not to renew a medical card within 21 days of that decision, the card previously held is reactivated once the HSE (PCRS) is informed of the appeal by the Appeals Office.
In the unlikely event that a person's eligibility expired without his/her knowledge and that person was taken suddenly ill and required hospitalisation, PCRS would try to accommodate the immediate needs of the individual. If this were to amount to a change in circumstances, the individual could have his/her application reviewed by PCRS, once he/she informs the HSE of the circumstances.
