Written answers

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

Department of Health and Children

Medical Cards

10:00 am

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if full time students aged 16 or under who are financially dependent on their parents are entitled to full medical cards if their parents hold medical cards which have been granted on medical grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4753/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The assessment of eligibility to medical cards is statutorily a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and is determined following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants. The Health Act 1970 provides that medical cards may be granted, under Section 45(1)(a), to adult persons who, in the opinion of the HSE, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Furthermore, medical cards are also provided, under Section 45(1)(b) of the Act, to dependants of the adult persons referred to in Section 45(1)(a).

Section 58 of the Health Act, 1970, as amended, provides that GP visit cards may be granted to adult persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the HSE, and notwithstanding that they do not qualify for a medical card, it would be unduly burdensome to arrange GP medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants, and also to the dependants of such adult persons. Persons aged 70 and over are statutorily entitled to a medical card, regardless of income. In all other cases an assessment of means is undertaken.

In assessing eligibility, the HSE use guidelines based on people's means, which includes their income, certain allowable outgoings and the effect of other factors which may impact on people's ability to meet the cost of GP services. These guidelines are not statutorily binding. A decision to refuse an application or renewal of a medical card may be appealed to the Executive for further consideration.

The HSE has indicated that in a case where particular circumstances are confined to an individual or individuals within a family, the matter may be dealt with by approving a medical card, under section 45(7) of the Health Act, 1970, for the family member(s) involved. The question of extending full eligibility to dependants of such persons is considered according to the merits of each case.

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