Written answers

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

Department of Health and Children

Medical Cards

9:00 pm

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to allow people with disabilities to work without losing key essential medical card cover after three years. [18663/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In accordance with the Health Service Executive's Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines, persons in receipt of the following allowances/benefits for a period of 12 months or more can retain their medical card for a period of three years from the date of taking up full-time employment:

Job Seekers Allowance;

Job Seekers Benefit;

One Parent Family Payment;

Illness Benefit;

Disability Allowance;

Blind Pension;

Employment Incentive Schemes or Educational Opportunity Schemes.

Such persons taking up part-time employment can retain their medical card for a period of three years from the date their income exceeds the relevant medical card guideline figure.

Persons participating on the following Government Schemes retain eligibility for a medical card for the duration of the scheme:

Back to Work Allowance;

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance;

Back to Education Allowance;

Revenue Job Assist;

Community Employment;

VTOS;

Job Initiative;

Rural Social Scheme;

Education, Training and Development Option;

Community Services Programme;

Part-time Job Incentive;

Part-time education Option;

FÁS (Non-craft courses);

Youthreach;

Local Employment Services Courses;

Fáilte and Teagasc Courses;

Wage Subsidy Scheme.

A person moving from one scheme to another will retain eligibility to a medical card as long as they remain on one of the above schemes.

Adult and child dependants of persons who retain their medical card either through receipt of specified allowances/benefits or participation on the above Government Schemes are also eligible for a medical card.

The Programme for Government commits to allowing people with disabilities to work without losing key essential medical card cover after 3 years. My Department is at present considering the most appropriate approach to the implementation of this commitment.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.