Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:885. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a patient is exempt from hospital bills if they have been admitted into hospital due to Covid-19-related issues. [14212/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 22 March 2022
Ceisteanna (885)
Freagraí scríofa
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the State are eligible, subject to certain charges, for public in-patient hospital services including consultant services. All persons, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions which include;
- medical card holders;
- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases, including Covid-19;
- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;
- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;
- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;
- women receiving maternity services;
- children up to 6 weeks of age;
- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card;
- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.
The Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020 were amended to include Covid-19 as an infectious disease, which in turn exempted individuals with Covid-19 from public in-patient charges under the Health Act 1970 (as amended).