Trevor Sargent
Ceist:101 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if he will consider giving a medical card without means testing to all citizens who reach 90 years of age. [15524/95]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Limerick East): Entitlement to health services in Ireland is based on means. 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 medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants.
Income guidelines are available to assist chief executive officers in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. These guidelines are higher for persons aged 66-79 and higher again for those aged 80 and over. 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 the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify it.
In view of this special provision, it is not justifiable to extend an automatic entitlement to a medical card to all citizens aged 90 and over without any reference to their means, particularly in view of the many areas of pressing need in the health services and the limited resources available to meet them.
Every person who is in genuine need of a medical card must receive one and I am satisfied the health boards give sympathetic consideration to applications made on the grounds of special medical needs.