Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1263. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the treatments and the devices that are covered by the treatment benefit scheme; and if there are any further planned improvements to be provided. [40980/22]
View answerTreatment Benefit is a PRSI-based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners.
The following are the entitlements under each of the schemes.
Dental Benefit
The department pays the full cost of an oral examination once a calendar year.
Since October 2017, a payment of €42 is provided towards either:
- a scale and polish
- a periodontal treatment (if clinically necessary)
If the cost of either cleaning or periodontal treatment is more than €42, you must pay the rest. This is capped at €15 for a scale and polish. There is no cap on the balance charged for periodontal treatment.
Optical Benefit
The Treatment Benefit Scheme entitles a claimant to a free eyesight test once every second calendar year. Sight tests for visual display units like computer screens and driving licences are not covered.
Once every second calendar year, a claimant can get a payment towards one pair of:
- reading and distance spectacles
- bifocal or varifocals
- contact lenses (including disposables)
Basic frames are free. If more expensive frames are chosen, the department will pay €42 towards the overall cost and the claimant pays the balance.
Medical lenses
These specialised lenses are used to treat certain eye conditions and medical evidence is required in order to access the grant.
If the claimant needs contact lenses for medical reasons, the department will pay a maximum of €500 towards the cost of each medical lens once every second calendar year, provided the claimant has an ophthalmologist’s recommendation.
Hearing aids
Suppliers may provide or repair hearing aids once every four calendar years if they have a contract with the department.
The department covers:
- a maximum of €500 towards the cost of each hearing aid
AND
- one repair per aid in a four year period, up to a maximum of €100 per aid
Hair Replacement (Non-Surgical Scalp Product)
Suppliers may provide a non-surgical scalp hair replacement product once per calendar year if they have a contract with the department.
The department covers a maximum of €500 towards the cost of a non-surgical scalp hair replacement product where hair loss results from a disease or treatment of a disease such as cancer or alopecia.
Types of alopecia which qualify are:
- alopecia areata (which includes alopecia totalis/universalis, diffuse alopecia areata, alopecia ophiasis)
- primary scarring alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias)
- frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris (scarring alopecia)
- chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium)
- alopecia resulting from surgery or trauma, including burns.
The Department has a list of registered providers for each benefit and full details of all providers and further information on all schemes are available on the Departments website.
Any further planned improvements will be considered in the context of available funds.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
