Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 December 2013
360. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if a person who turns 18, has a severe intellectual disability, and has a medical card will still be able to include his or her monthly prescription charges within the gross family total at their pharmacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54896/13]
View answerMedical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. These new rates are effective from 1 December 2013. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme.
For the purposes of the cap of €25 per month, a family is defined as an adult, their spouse/partner, any children under 16 years of age and any children between 16 and 21 years of age who are in full time education.
