Andrew Boylan
Ceist:253 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health and Children if medical cards will be granted, in the budget, to everybody over 66 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22749/98]
Written Answers. - Medical Cards.
Seán Haughey
Ceist:265 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will grant a medical card to all persons over the age of 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22499/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 265 together.
Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on means. Under the Health Act, 1970, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer, are unable to provide general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship.
Income guidelines have been drawn up by the chief executive officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and these are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. However these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that his-her medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. It should also be noted that these guidelines are higher for persons aged 66-79 and higher again for those aged 80 and over.
In view of this special provision previous Governments did not feel it was justifiable, on health policy grounds, to extend an automatic entitlement to a medical card to any specific group without any reference to their means, as a general rule. It is open to all persons to apply to the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship.
The Government identified in its programme An Action Programme for the Millennium, the need to review the medical card eligibility for the elderly and large families. My Department is continuing to have discussions with the health board chief executive officers regarding their views on these issues. I hope to be in a position soon to come to a view about what ought to be done arising out of this review.