Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in relation to a submission (details supplied); the action she will take to address the issues raised in regard to medical card entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44539/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in relation to a submission (details supplied); the action she will take to overcome the problems stated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44540/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 76 together.

Section 1 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 provided a statutory entitlement to persons aged 70 and over to a medical card, regardless of income, with effect from 1st July 2001. In relation to Part 8 of the details supplied by the Deputy, I wish to clarify that persons aged 80 and over did not have a statutory entitlement to a medical card prior to 1st July 2001.

The Government's proposal, to be effected in legislation, is that automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over will end on 31st December 2008, and 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 (€36,500 per year) for a single person and €1,400 (gross) per week (€73,000 per year) for a couple. Persons whose income is above the specified thresholds will have until 2nd March 2009 to advise the Health Service Executive that their income is above those limits. After that date, their medical card will no longer be valid.

As part of the means test, any savings and similar investments up to €36,000 (single) / €72,000 (couple) will be disregarded and only interest from savings above these figures will be considered as income for means testing purposes. The Health Levy will not be payable by people aged 70 and over. In cases where one member of a couple is aged 70 or over and the other is under 70, both will qualify for a medical card if their joint income does not exceed €1,400 per week.

People whose gross income is above the stated thresholds may, depending on their personal circumstances, still qualify for a medical card or a GP visit card under the standard means-testing arrangements.

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. The Government decision to remove automatic entitlement to a medical card from persons aged 70 or over and to increase the relevant income thresholds is aimed at ensuring that public health funding is used to help those most in need and is sustainable for future years as the proportion of older people in our population increases substantially.