Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2021
155. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of introducing an automatic entitlement to a medical card for all persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53489/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE issues income guidelines to assist in determining entitlement to medical cards/GP visit cards. Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. On November 1, 2020 the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over was increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple.
The high level cost of removing the over 70s medical card income thresholds and thus introducing automatic medical card eligibility for all persons aged 70 and over is estimated to be in excess of €200m. This is based on approximately 138,000 additional persons qualifying for the medical card,(i.e. the number of non-medical card holders currently aged 70 and over) by the average cost of the medical card which is offset by the current cost of a GP visit card which all person aged 70 and over are automatically eligible for. However, a more detailed examination of this measure supported by a robust costing analysis would be required to provide a more accurate estimation.
