Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013
438. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a person's mortgage is no longer used as an expense when assessing means for a medical card; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47872/13]
View answerOutgoings in respect of mortgage costs against the principal family home are an allowable expense for a means tested medical card under the Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines.
The assessment allows the full weekly/monthly mortgage payment secured against the principal family home and the following outgoings: mortgage protection premium; life assurance premium in relation to mortgage protection; fire and contents insurance premium.
Evidence of payment of all of the above outgoings must be provided by the applicant and documentary evidence from the mortgage provider as to the purpose of the mortgage may be requested from the applicant from time to time. If a mortgage is in respect of second house, holiday home abroad etc., then this will be allowed for assessment purposes, as set out above, but the value of the property or rental income will be assessed as income in accordance with the guidelines.
Medical card and GP visit card eligibility under the scheme for persons aged 70 or older is solely based on an assessment of gross income. If a person aged 70 or older is assessed ineligible under this scheme, he/she may also have their eligibility assessed under the general scheme of net income assessment to include allowable outgoing expenses, such as mortgage costs. The qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are different to the over -70's gross income limits.
