Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
687. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on UK pensions and payments from the UK Government here that are in receipt of medical cards; and if they have a separate entitlement to medical cards arising from the payment by the UK Government to Ireland to cover these persons in respect of their health services but are now living here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25760/14]
View answerRegulation (EC) 883/2004 deals with the coordination of social security, including health care, for those moving within the European Union. Under its provisions, persons residing in Ireland who are attached to the social security system of another member state, are entitled to receive health care services in Ireland at the cost of that member state provided they are not subject to Irish social security legislation. Persons in this category, which includes persons attached to the UK social security system, are entitled to full eligibility and receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement.
The Health Service Executive operates under the legislative framework of the Health Act of 1970, as subsequently amended. 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. The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to a medical card or a GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of his or her entitlement. As part of the HSE's ongoing process of periodic review to determine continuing eligibility, where a person who holds a medical card under the EU Regulations, there is only a requirement to demonstrate to the HSE that they continue to qualify under the EU Regulations.
The information requested on the number of persons on UK pensions and payments from the UK Government here that are in receipt of medical cards is not readily available. However, Ireland operates a bilateral healthcare reimbursement agreement with the United Kingdom, in respect of health services provided under EU Regulations, covering such persons as temporary visitors between the two countries, pensioners of one country and their dependants residing in the other country, and the dependant families of persons employed in the other country. Under the terms of the agreement net liability between the two countries is calculated on a lump sum basis rather than an individual basis.
By far the largest part of the payments made on an annual basis under the agreement relates to the provision of healthcare to pensioners of one country residing in the other country. The estimated number of pensioners for whom each country is liable has been based on a sample survey undertaken by both administrations every three years. The most recent sample survey was completed in 2008 and the United Kingdom accepted liability for 40% of its pensioner caseload residing in Ireland, equating to 43,600 persons. Both administrations have since agreed in principle to work towards a form of pensioner registration which will form the basis for calculating pensioner reimbursement costs in the future and agreed interim arrangements for determining pensioner liability, based on previous survey results trends.
