Pat Carey
Ceist:520 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost to introduce medical cards to all children up to the age of five, ten, 12 and 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30511/00]
Written Answers. - Medical Cards.
All the information required to answer the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I propose to contact the Deputy directly, within the next week, when I have received the details from the GMS (Payments) Board.
Pat Carey
Ceist:521 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to introduce medical cards for third level students; the cost of introducing such a provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30512/00]
Entitlement to health services 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 guidelines are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. However, the 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 or her medical needs would justify this. Medical cards may also be awarded to individual family members on this basis.
Persons aged 16 upwards, including students, who are dependants of a person who is not a medical card holder, are not normally entitled to a medical card. Students who are financially independent are entitled to apply for a medical card in their own right and are assessed on the same income criteria as all other applicants.
Currently, I have no plans to extend an automatic entitlement to a medical card in this instance. It is, of course, 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 Deputy may be aware that the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness refers to the fact that health board chief executive officers are examining the operation of the medical card scheme in consultation with the social partners. Particular emphasis is being placed on the needs of families with children, and on removing anomalies and barriers to take-up, including information deficits. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to costs in not readily available in my Department and I will write to him directly on the issue.