Written answers
Tuesday, 5 October 2004
Department of Health and Children
Medical Cards
9:00 pm
Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons with medical card cover aged 70 and over in 1998 and in 2003; and the average cost of medical card cover for persons aged 70 and over compared to those aged under 70 in each of the respective years. [23232/04]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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According to information supplied in the annual reports of the General Medical Services (Payments) Board, the number of persons with medical card cover aged 70 and over in 2003 was 309,330. It is not possible to give a similar figure for 1998 as the data were not collected in that format at that time. However, the number of persons aged 65 years and over in 1998 was 298,682.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
| Year | 1998 | 2003 | ||
| 65 years and over | Previous medical card holders — 70 years and over | Newly eligible at 70 years and over | 70 years and over residing in a Private Nursing Home | |
| € | € | € | € | |
| Av. GP capitation payment per patient | 106.38 | 135.86 | 480.66 | 696.58 |
| Av. Pharmacy cost per patient | 413.15 | 1,071.05 | 1,071.05 | 1,071.05 |
| Av. total payment per patient | 519.53 | 1,206.91 | 1,551.71 | 1,767.63 |
| Average payment for all GMS patient age groups | ||
| Year | 1998 | 2003 |
| € | € | |
| Av. GP capitation payment per patient | 124.18 | 247.66 |
| Av. Pharmacy cost per patient | 231.82 | 561.82 |
| Av. total payment per patient | 356.00 | 809.48 |
It should be noted that the costs in the above tables relate to the GMS scheme only and do not include other entitlements such as dental and ophthalmic services.
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