Vol. 453 No. 5
13 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Health the reason students living away from home and totally dependent on State resources are being refused medical cards; the reason refusals are being based in certain cases on the fact that their parents do not hold medical cards; the reason this discriminatory decision prevails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9207/95]
Limerick East): Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants.
Income guidelines are draw up by the chief executive officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annualy in line with the consumer price index. However, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, that person may still be awarded a medical card if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this.
Persons aged 16 to 25, including students, who are dependants of a person who is not a medical card holder, are not normally entitled to a medical card except where they have an entitlement under EC Regulations or where they are in receipt of a disabled person's maintenance allowance. The decision on whether or not a person is regarded as a dependant or as being financially independent is made by the chief executive officer of the health board on the basis of the circumstances of each individual case. Students who are financially independent are entitled to apply for a medical card in their right and are assessed on the same income criteria as all other applicants.
