Paul McAuliffe
Question:705. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health when the medical card threshold for persons aged over 70 years will be increased. [28570/20]
View answerTuesday, 6 October 2020
Questions (705, 714)
Cathal Crowe
Question:714. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when the increased eligibility guidelines for medical cards for persons over 70 years of age announced in Budget 2020 will be enacted. [28622/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 714 together.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020, enacted on 2nd August 2020, provided for an increase to the gross medical card income limits for those aged 70 and over to €550 per week for a single person and to €1,050 per week for a couple.
The Government has now approved the necessary funding required to implement this measure and the new increased income limits will take effect from November 1st 2020.
Officials in my Department are therefore now making the necessary arrangements to commence the relevant section of the Act and are engaging with the HSE's National Medical Card unit to ensure all operational arrangements are in place for implementation of this measure.