Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
793. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide temporary discretionary medical cards to all cancer patients to offset medical charges for their treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42128/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
While it is none the less important to note that eligibility for a medical card remains primarily on the basis of financial assessment, I do recognise that patients require a responsive and efficient health system to meet their medical needs, which may often be required urgently. The HSE therefore has a system in place for the provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations. For example, where persons are in need of urgent or on-going medical care that they cannot afford, medical cards are granted on an emergency basis which are valid for six months with a means test required before the end of this period for the person and their family, where applicable.
Separately, where the HSE is informed that a patient is receiving end of life treatment – that is when patients’ unfortunately have a prognosis of less than 12 months, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required medical report and a completed application form from a healthcare professional. Medical cards awarded on the basis of end of life criteria do not require a means assessment nor are they reassessed.
Furthermore, since 2015 medical cards are awarded without the need of a financial assessment to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer.
