Brian Cowen
Ceist:99 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm retention of medical card for a family (details supplied) in County Westmeath whose case came up for review recently. [4274/95]
Written Answers. - Medical Card Retention.
Limerick East): The determination of eligibility for a medical card is a matter for the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Persons are granted medical cards where the chief executive officer considers that they are unable to meet their medical expenses without undue hardship. A uniform set of income guidelines are used by the health boards to assist in deciding on a person's eligibility. Each application is assessed on its own merits with the individual circumstances, including particular illnesses or disabilities, being taken into account. In the interests of effective management of the system, health boards periodically review the eligibility status of medical card holders.
I have had inquiries made of the Midland Health Board in this case and I understood that, following a recent review, the couple in question had their medical card withdrawn on the grounds that their income was considerably above the guidelines. However, the board has decided to grant a card on medical grounds to one of the family members mentioned in the Deputy's question.