Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will reverse the decision to abolish the automatic entitlement to the over 70s medical card. [40237/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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With effect from the 1st January 2009, new income thresholds will apply for entitlement to a medical card for those aged 70 and over. The thresholds are €700 (gross) per week for a single person and €1400 (gross) per week for a couple. It is expected that 95% of those aged 70 or over (about 330,000 out of 353,000) will get a medical card under the new arrangements announced by the Government.

Over 1.3 million people in the State currently have a medical card. The objective of the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme is to ensure that the medical card benefit is available to those who are unable without undue hardship, to meet the cost of health services for themselves and their dependants. I am satisfied that the Government decision to remove the automatic eligibility to a medical card for persons aged 70 or over with effect from 1st January 2009 is an effective measure to ensure that public health funding is used to help those most in need.