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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

484 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the eligibility arrangements for medical cards; and the eligibility limits in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 for all categories of applicants. [1169/02]

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 other than for persons aged seventy years and over, who are automatically eligible for a medical card. 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 are drawn up to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and these 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/her medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. It is open to all persons to apply to the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board if they are unable to provide health services for themselves or their dependants without hardship.

The issue of eligibility was considered in the context of the new national health strategy, Quality and Fairness, A Health System For You, launched by the Government. The strategy outlines a number of measures designed to improve eligibility for health services which the Government has committed itself to introducing over a number of years. Among the measures proposed is an increase in access to medical cards. In addition to the recent extension of eligibility to all persons aged 70 years and over, the strategy includes a commitment that significant improvements will be made in the income guidelines in order to increase the number of persons on low incomes who are eligible for a medical card and to give priority to families with children and particularly children with a disability.

Medical Card Income Guidelines

(with effect from 1 January 1999)

Per week

Single Person Living Alone

Aged up to 66 years

£92.00

Aged between 66-79 years

£100.00

Aged 80 years and over

£105.00

Single Person Living with Family

Aged up to 66 years

£81.50

Aged between 66-79 years

£86.50

Aged 80 years and over

£90.00

Married Couple

Aged up to 66 years

£133.00

Aged between 66-79 years

£149.00

Aged 80 years and over

£156.50

Allowances

For child under 16 years

£16.00

For other dependants

£17.50

For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of........

£16.00

Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of

£14.50

(with effect from 1 March 1999)

Per week

Single Person Living Alone

Aged up to 66 years

£92.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£100.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£133.00

Aged 80 years and over

£140.00

Single Person Living with Family

Aged up to 66 years

£81.50

Aged between 66-69 years

£86.50

Aged between 70-79 years

£115.00

Aged 80 years and over

£120.00

Married Couple

Aged up to 66 years

£133.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£149.00

Medical Card Income Guidelines–contd.

Aged between 70-79 years

£199.00

Aged 80 years and over

£209.00

Allowances

For child under 16 years

£16.00

For other dependants

£17.50

For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of........

£16.00

Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of

£14.50

(with effect from 1 January 2000)

Per week

Single Person Living Alone

Aged up to 66 years

£93.50

Aged between 66-69 years

£101.50

Aged between 70-79 years

£135.00

Aged 80 years and over

£142.00

Single Person Living with Family

Aged up to 66 years

£83.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£88.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£117.00

Aged 80 years and over

£122.00

Married Couple

Aged up to 66 years

£135.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£151.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£202.00

Aged 80 years and over

£212.00

Allowances

For child under 16 years

£16.50

For other dependants

£18.00

For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of........

£16.50

Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of

£15.00

(with effect from 1 March 2000)

Per week

Single Person Living Alone

Aged up to 66 years

£93.50

Aged between 66-69 years

£101.50

Aged between 70-79 years

£168.50

Aged 80 years and over

£177.50

Single Person Living with Family

Aged up to 66 years

£83.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£88.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£146.00

Aged 80 years and over

£152.00

Married Couple

Aged up to 66 years

£135.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£151.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£252.50

Aged 80 years and over

£265.00

Allowances

For child under 16 years

£16.50

For other dependants

£18.00

For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of........

£16.50

Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of

£15.00

(with effect from 1 January 2001)

Per week

Single Person Living Alone

Aged up to 66 years

£100.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£109.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£180.00

Aged 80 years and over

£190.00

Single Person Living with Family

Aged up to 66 years

£89.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£94.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£156.00

Aged 80 years and over

£163.00

Married Couple

Aged up to 66 years

£144.50

Aged between 66-69 years

£162.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£270.00

Aged 80 years and over

£284.00

Medical Card Income Guidelines–contd.

Allowances

For child under 16 years

£18.00

For other dependants

£19.00

For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of........

£18.00

Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of

£16.00

(with effect from 1 March 2001)

Per week

Single Person Living Alone

Aged up to 66 years

£100.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£109.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£216.00

Aged 80 years and over

£228.00

Single Person Living with Family

Aged up to 66 years

£89.00

Aged between 66-69 years

£94.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£187.00

Aged 80 years and over

£195.50

Married Couple

Aged up to 66 years

£144.50

Aged between 66-69 years

£162.00

Aged between 70-79 years

£324.00

Aged 80 years and over

£340.50

Allowances

For child under 16 years

£18.00

For other dependants

£19.00

For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of........

£18.00

Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of

£16.00

(with effect from 1 January 2002)

Per week

Single Person Living Alone

Aged up to 66 years

132.00

Aged between 66-69 years

144.00

Aged between 70-79 years

285.00

Aged 80 years and over

300.50

Single Person Living with Family

Aged up to 66 years

117.00

Aged between 66-69 years

124.00

Aged between 70-79 years

246.50

Aged 80 years and over

258.00

Married Couple

Aged up to 66 years

190.50

Aged between 66-69 years

214.00

Aged between 70-79 years

427.00

Aged 80 years and over

449.00

Allowances

For child under 16 years

24.00

For other dependants

25.00

For outgoings on house (rent etc.) in excess of........

24.00

Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of

21.00

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