Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 233: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if persons over 70 years who lose their medical card as a result of the means test will be required to pay the 2% health levy. [37055/08]

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

The Health Contribution was introduced by virtue of the Health Contributions Act 1979 and came into effect on 6 April of that year. The contributions are levied on income at a percentage rate set in pursuance of the Health Contributions Act and are paid over to the Minister for Health and Children in respect of the Vote for the Health Service Executive. The current rate of contribution is 2% of gross income up to €1,925 per week or €100,100 per annum and 2.5 % on the balance of income in excess of those amounts in a contribution year. Subject to exemptions, the rate of contribution is applicable to all persons over the age of sixteen with reckonable income, earnings or emoluments.

The exemptions, as outlined in Section 11 of the Act, are those whose income does not exceed €26,000 per annum, those who are fully eligible for health services as set out in Section 45 of the Health Act 1970 (i.e. medical cardholders in this State, including those workers covered under EC Regulation 1408/71), recipients of a Social Welfare Widow's/Widower's Pension, One-parent Family Payment or Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, as well as those in receipt of a Widow'/Widower's pension acquired under the social security legislation of an EU member State. I have already made a commitment to exempt all persons over 70 years of age from paying the health contribution and I will be bringing forward legislation in the near future to give effect to that commitment.