Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This Bill seeks to amend the eligibility rules for the over-70s medical card. Some 40% of the population has free access to GP services under the GMS scheme. As of 1 February, there were 1,855,797 medical cards, which equates to 40% of the population. In addition, there are 130,000 GP visit cards, representing nearly 3% of the population.

Medical cards were providing blanket cover to the over-70s, of which there are 370,000 in the State. Currently, some 360,000 medical cards have been issued to people over 70, providing cover to about 97% of that cohort. About 35% of the population aged under 70 is covered by medical cards.

The policy change will leave about 92% of existing over-70s as medical card holders. About 20,000 over-70 medical card holders - that is, the wealthiest 5% - will continue to receive free GP care instead of a medical card.

Over the past two years, the Government has undertaken a stock-taking exercise of extravagances. The over-70s medical card should not be seen as an extravagance but we have had no cross checks between social welfare, Revenue and the Department of Health. Many concerned people are ringing me because they are being asked about their medical cards and whether they require them. The vast majority of elderly people have no need to worry because we are effectively undertaking a stocktaking exercise. However, there are people with medical cards who should not have them. I am not talking about the over-70s, but well-connected people. The knew somebody who knew somebody else but I cannot understand why they got medical cards.

I wish to praise the Department of Health, the Department of Social Protection and other Departments that are now writing to people on this matter. A "nod and wink" system went on but people are now handing in their medical cards, which I welcome. However, we should do everything possible to ensure the elderly, especially the over-70s, have medical cards, free GP visits and access to the health services they require.

I am a VHI member and pay for my own cover and that of my mother who is over 70. There are many people around the country who may not go to a doctor because it will cost €40 or €50 and they may not be able to claim it back. I am delighted that people have medical cards enabling them to visit the doctor and get their drugs. There is another side to the story, however, where taxpayers must think twice before visiting a doctor or getting prescriptions due to the cost involved. Such people do not have the required money because they are paying for mortgages, light, heat and phones. There is a big debate going on but I know the Government is committed to ensuring that people who deserve to have a medical card, need one and will not abuse it, will have one.

The cost of private health insurance has been raised in this debate. Like many other people, I have shopped around. People must ask themselves whether they can afford a certain level of cover but it may still cost them approximately €200 per month. That amounts to €2,400 annually, which I can afford for myself and my mother but it is becoming increasingly expensive. Many people, both in and out of work, have had to forgo their medical insurance which is putting significant pressure on the system. We need to look at that issue. I ask people who are covered by the VHI, BUPA, Aviva, Quinn or any other insurance company to shop around. If they do not do so they may become hostages to fortune. It is nice to have the option to shop around.

People are now monitoring how they heat their houses in order to save money. They may heat one room instead of heating five or six unoccupied rooms. We are now beginning to realise that heating costs hit our pockets. I wish it were not so, but we must all look at this situation.

I recently attended a meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Donegal, the constituency of the Acting Chairman, Deputy McConalogue. I asked where these woodchip fuel stoves have come from. In every house, they are like a little baby in the corner and people say how fantastic it is. However, these stoves have been available for the past 20 or 30 years in Germany and elsewhere in continental Europe. Yet we are only embracing these concepts now because we thought that wood, turf and other fuels were free. They are not free, however, because somebody must cut the turf.

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