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Medical Card Reviews

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Ceisteanna (914)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

914. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medical card reviews in respect of elderly persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23112/14]

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Freagraí scríofa

In Budget 2014, it was announced that the gross income limit for an over-70s medical card is to be set at €500 per week for a single person and at €900 per week for a couple. The new income limits were effective from 1st January 2014. The HSE is required to identify those persons who no longer have full eligibility as a result of this change and, in place of the medical card, issue a GP visit card to those with gross income up to €700 (single person)/€1,400 (couple) per week. In this regard, the HSE has written to those 50,000 over-70s that it believes may be in excess of the new income limits. Any over-70s that lose their medical card due to the budget changes will continue to have access to free GP services. This is in line with the introduction, on a phased basis, of a universal GP service without fees, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. In addition, any over-70s that lose their medical card due to the budget changes will be able to use the DPS (Drugs Payment Scheme) which caps spending on prescription drugs.

It should also be noted that persons aged 70 or older, who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds, may also have their eligibility assessed under the means tested medical card scheme where they face particularly high expenses. This assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses and the qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over -70s gross income thresholds. Furthermore, persons aged over 70 years may still be eligible for a medical card on a discretionary basis where they face undue hardship in arranging medical services as a result of medical or social circumstances.

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