Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the criteria which must be satisfied to get a general practitioner visit card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12798/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive, HSE, has a statutory obligation to make available without charge general practitioner services to persons for whom, in the opinion of the executive, it would be unduly burdensome to arrange such services for themselves and their dependants. People who are deemed eligible by the executive are provided with a GP visit card following an assessment of their income and their outgoings.

The income guidelines used by the executive for GP visit card applications are 25% higher than those for medical cards. The HSE has discretion to grant a GP visit card to persons whose income may be in excess of the guidelines but whose particular circumstances justify such a decision.

Over the course of 2005 significant improvements have been made to the way in which people's eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is assessed. In June 2005, the means test for both medical cards and GP visit cards was simplified. It is now based on an applicant's and spouse's income after tax and PRSI, and takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, child care and travel to work. The guidelines also reflect the family size. In October 2005 the income guidelines for both medical cards and GP visit cards were increased by an additional 20%. The HSE has publicised these changes to encourage people to apply and has made the application process as simple as possible. The HSE has also provided a national information helpline.

The current GP visit card guidelines are set out below. To these amounts are added the reasonable expenses for rent or mortgage, child care and travel to work. The HSE will then compare the applicant or spouse income after income tax and PRSI against the total guideline in making its decision on an application as to whether a medical card or a GP visit card will be approved.