Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:1097. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to awarding temporary medical cards to long-Covid sufferers given that Covid-19 is a public health matter. [22304/21]
View answerWednesday, 28 April 2021
Questions (1097)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from, the social and medical impacts of an illness.
Regarding long Covid, as COVID 19 is still a relatively new disease information on it, its features and its course are just emerging. Longer term observational studies will be required to fully understand the health consequences presently being attributed to post COVID-19 infection and management of persisting symptoms that will in time provide higher quality evidence and assist guideline development for appropriate provision of care. It is noted however that medical card holders can access GP and hospital services free of charge irrespective of the type of illness.