Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Health and Children

Medical Cards

7:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when an inclusive medical card will issue in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42207/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their GP.

Since the beginning of 2005 substantial changes have been made to the way in which people's eligibility for a medical card is assessed and these apply equally to the assessment process for a GP visit card. The income guidelines have been increased by a cumulative 29% and in addition allowance is now made for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of mortgage/rent, childcare and travel to work costs. In June 2006 I agreed with the Health Service Executive a further adjustment to the assessment guidelines for GP visit cards and these are now 50% higher than those in respect of medical cards.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for these benefits, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

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