asked the Minister for Health if he will give an estimate of the additional annual cost if applications for medical cards from among the employed were based on nett pay rather than gross pay; the estimated extra number of families who would qualify for medical cards on this basis.
Written Answers. - Cost of Medical Cards.
127.
Such information is not readily available to me. I would, however, point out that a person whose gross income exceeds the income guidelines is nonetheless awarded a medical card if he meets the statutory criterion i.e. that, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the relevant health board, he is unable to arrange general practitioner services for himself and his dependants without undue hardship.