Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1383. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of changing the income limits for over-70s medical cards from €550 to €800 (single) and €1,050 to €1,600 (couple), and applying these income limits for everyone over 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36963/23]
View answerEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. It should be noted that in November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple. This increase ensures that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over now qualify for a medical card. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
As provided for in Budget 2023, eligibility for GP visit cards will be extended to people who earn up to the median household income and to all children aged 6 and 7 years. Approximately 500,000 additional persons, who otherwise would have attended their GP on a private basis, are expected to become eligible for free GP care under this expansion. The extension of GP visit cards to children aged 6 and 7 years will commence on 11 August. The extension of cards to those who earn the median household income or less will commence on 11 September and will be completed in two phases with the second phase commencing on 13 November.
Modelling scenarios normally used to determine estimated cost increases for medical card eligibility will likely be affected by these planned changes. Per request by the Deputy, it will be necessary for there to be opportunity for the extension of eligibility for GP services to commence and become operationalised before being able to accurately reflect the impact of this significant change in eligibility on estimated costs for amendments to medical card income thresholds more generally.
