Written answers
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Department of Health and Children
Medical Cards
11:00 pm
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of full medical cards issued as at year end 2007; the number issued for the first six months in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28070/08]
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioner visit medical cards issued as at year end 2007; the number issued for the first six months in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28071/08]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.
Details of the numbers of medical card holders and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures are provided on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The most recent figures provided to my Department are for 31st May 2008. The following table shows the number of persons with medical cards on 31st December 2007 and on 31st May 2008 and the number of persons with GP visit cards on the same dates.
| Date | No. of persons with a medical card | No. of persons with a GP visit card |
| 31 December 2007 | 1,276,178 | 75,589 |
| 31 May 2008 | 1,306,470 | 80,035 |
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the income thresholds for qualification for a full medical card and for a general practitioner visit card, indicating the thresholds for single persons, married couples and single parents; the way in which they vary between age categories and the category of married couples, one of whom is over 70 years and one of whom is not, and that of dependent children; her plans to review income thresholds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28072/08]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The following table gives details of the income thresholds used by the Health Service Executive to assist it in determining if a person qualifies for a medical card or GP visit card.
| Medical Card Weekly Rate | GP Visit Card Rate | |
| â'¬ | â'¬ | |
| Single Person Living Alone | ||
| Aged up to 65 years | 184.00 | 276.00 |
| Aged between 66-69 years | 201.50 | 302.00 |
| Single Person Living with Family | ||
| Aged up to 65 years | 164.00 | 246.00 |
| Aged between 66-69 years | 173.50 | 260.00 |
| Married Couple/Single Parent with dependant Children | ||
| Aged up to 65 years | 266.50 | 400.00 |
| Aged between 66-69 years | 298.00 | 447.00 |
| Aged between 70-79 years (see footnote) | 596.50 | 895.00 |
| Aged 80 years and over (see footnote) | 627.00 | 940.50 |
| Allowances | ||
| Allowance for first 2 children under 16 financially dependent on applicant | 38.00 | 57.00 |
| For 3rd and subsequent children under 16 years financially dependent on applicant | 41.00 | 61.50 |
| Allowance for first 2 children over 16 yrs financially dependant on applicant | 39.00 | 58.50 |
| For 3rd and subsequent children over 16 yrs financially dependent on applicant | 42.50 | 64.00 |
| Dependant over 16 years in full-time education and not grant-aided | 78.00 | 117.00 |
| Footnote: The guidelines for those aged 70-79 years, and aged 80 years and over, are used when one member of a married couple is aged over 70, and their spouse aged under 70 is applying. |
The Programme for Government commits to the following:
Indexing the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage;
Doubling of the income limit eligibility of parents of children under 6 years of age, and trebling them for parents of children under 18 years of age with an intellectual disability.
In conjunction with the development of a new legislative framework to provide for clear statutory provisions on eligibility for health and personal social services, my Department is reviewing the assessment criteria in the context of financial, medical and social need in line with the commitment in Towards 2016. A Steering Group has been established which is expected to complete this work in autumn 2008. It is my intention to then consider how best to progress the commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to medical card eligibility.
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