Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the income guidelines that will apply in 2009 in assessing the entitlement of a person over 70 to a general practitioner visit card. [41005/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects to be in a position to know if the income guidelines set for medical card applicants who are over 70 years have met the target of allowing 95% of over-70s qualify; if a review process has been set up to establish the percentage qualifying; and her intentions to raise the income guidelines when this review is complete. [41006/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.

The Government's proposal, to be effected in legislation, is that, with effect from 1st January 2009, the income thresholds for entitlement to a medical card for those aged 70 and over will be €700 (gross) per week for a single person and €1,400 (gross) per week for a couple. The thresholds were selected on the basis of EU-SILC income distribution tables, updated to the present year. These tables have been made available to Opposition parties. It is expected that 95% (or 19 out of 20) of those aged 70 or over will continue to hold a medical card under the new arrangements announced by the Government.

The income thresholds for the over 70s medical card will be reviewed annually to take account of the increases in average industrial earning over the lifetime of this Government and it is expected that 19 out of 20 persons aged 70 and over will continue to qualify for medical cards into the future.

In addition, the Health Service Executive (HSE) provide figures to my Department each month on the number of persons with medical cards and GP visit cards. My Department monitors these figures on an ongoing basis and will continue to keep the position under review.

Where a person aged 70 and over does not qualify for a medical card after 1st January 2009 by virtue of their gross income being over the thresholds mentioned above, the HSE may grant a medical card or a G.P. visit card under the existing net income thresholds of €302 per week for a single person and €447 per week for a couple after mortgage/rent, medical, nursing and other expenses are taken into account. This is to allow for the possibility that a person's net income may yet qualify them for a medical card or G.P. visit card even though their gross income is above the proposed new limits. The Government considers it important that this option should be available to persons aged 70 and over.