Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:885. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a patient is exempt from hospital bills if they have been admitted into hospital due to Covid-19-related issues. [14212/22]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
885. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a patient is exempt from hospital bills if they have been admitted into hospital due to Covid-19-related issues. [14212/22]
View answerThe Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the State are eligible, subject to certain charges, for public in-patient hospital services including consultant services. All persons, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions which include;
- medical card holders;
- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases, including Covid-19;
- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;
- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;
- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;
- women receiving maternity services;
- children up to 6 weeks of age;
- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card;
- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.
The Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020 were amended to include Covid-19 as an infectious disease, which in turn exempted individuals with Covid-19 from public in-patient charges under the Health Act 1970 (as amended).