Dominic Hannigan
Ceist:248. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if a child with proximal femoral focal deficiency qualifies for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20678/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card Eligibility
Ceisteanna (248)
Freagraí scríofa
Medical cards are not awarded to any particular group of patients on the basis of a specific medical condition.
Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits and is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services to themselves and their dependents without undue hardship. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with any specific illness.
There is a provision for discretion to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship" where the income guidelines are exceeded. The HSE set up a clinical panel to assist in the processing of applications for discretionary medical cards where there are difficult personal circumstances.
There is an emergency process for a person who is terminally ill, or in urgent need of medical attention and cannot afford to pay for it, that provides a card within 24 hours while the normal application process is completed. Once a letter from the patient's GP or consultant is received stating that the person is terminally ill and the required personal details are provided, an emergency card is issued to that person for a six-month period.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (249)
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:249. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 who submitted their application for a medical card before 1 April 2013 are disqualified from including expenses previously taken into account before additional legislation was enforced on 1 April 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20692/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
Medical Card Appeals
Ceisteanna (250)
John McGuinness
Ceist:250. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the correct figures for income and expenditure relative to an application for a medical card now under appeal will be examined in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the appeal will be expedited and approved. [20693/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.