Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 March 2023
175. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of increasing the current income limit for medical cards, of €184 per week, to the €304 threshold for the GP visit card. [15521/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of increasing the over-70s medical card income thresholds of €550 for a single person to €700 and of €1,050 for a couple to €1,400. [15523/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 177 together.
Eligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. It should be noted that in November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple. This increase ensures that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over now qualify for a medical card. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.With regard to the estimated costs of the deputy's proposals, the data required to model these are not readily available and it is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the associated costs at this time. However, I wish to assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues, including the current medical card income thresholds under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and other issues which may be relevant.
