asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether it was brought to his notice that Thomas Carroll, 3 St. Patrick's Square, Bray, County Wicklow, who has been ill and confined to bed for a period of nine weeks was unable to obtain payment of his National Health Insurance benefit from the Unified Society although he surrendered to their agent eight medical certificates testifying to his incapacity for work; whether he is aware that Mr. Carroll has not been informed that he is not entitled to benefit, and whether he is in a position to indicate the steps that will be taken to ensure that the insured population who are entitled to benefit will obtain payment expeditiously.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Insurance Claim.
I am informed by the society that the delay in this case is mainly attributable to Thomas Carroll himself for the following reasons:—
Firstly, although the illness is stated to have commenced on 23rd December, he gave no notice to the society until the 14th January.
Secondly, when he did give notice he gave it under the wrong membership number.
Thirdly, he surrendered his cards for 1935 under a wrong membership number.
Fourthly, he did not surrender a card for the second half of 1934 until Friday last.
All these errors had to be put right before the claim could be decided. Payment of 30/- has been made to him, and the adjustment of benefit consequent on the receipt of the card for the second half of 1934 will now be made. He cannot get benefit for the period prior to 14th January unless he shows that he was not reasonably able to give notice at an earlier date.
That is not the only case in County Wicklow in which a person has been sick for eight weeks before receiving notice. Then they get notice to submit themselves to a medical referee without any payment.
This is the first case which has come to my notice.