Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

One 90 year old lady living in a granny flat whose sole income was the old age pension and who had a small amount saved telephoned me last week. When I informed her that there would not be a problem with keeping her card because her only income was the old age pension, she said she understood that everyone aged over 70 years would lose their medical card.

In addition, complications arising from general medical card assessment guidelines added to the confusion. Clearly the Government's message that 70% of those aged 70 years and over would continue to qualify for a medical card did not get across.

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