Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has issued regulations or guidelines to set out the way different assets, shareholdings, shares in private companies, unit funds with income rolled up and so on, should be treated in deciding the gross income for persons over 70 years in the medical card means test. [5094/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Health Act 2008, automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 or over ceased on 31 December 2008, and with effect from 1 January 2009, the income thresholds for entitlement to a medical card for those aged 70 or over is €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.

Under the over 70s medical card scheme, from 1 January 2009 any savings and similar investments up to €36,000 (single)/€72,000 (couple) will be disregarded and only interest from savings or similar investments above these figures will be considered as income for means testing purposes. The relevant portion of savings and similar investments will be assessed on the income calculated at a notional interest rate, based on the prevailing interest rates at the time of application. The Health Service Executive's (HSE) Central Application Unit will review the notional rate on a quarterly basis.

Alternatively, where an applicant wishes to have the actual interest from savings/investments considered, then the HSE will apply this approach and use the most beneficial option in favour of the applicant, subject to submission of the appropriate certificates from the relevant institutions. In the case of "longer term" investment accounts, where the interest is only applied at the end of a fixed period, if the applicant so wishes, the HSE will only take account of the interest earned on the date the investment matures.

Income will not be imputed from property (whether a family home, a holiday home or any other property) for means testing purposes, unless it is rented and only the net rental income will be included as income. The income to be assessed will be the gross income, less any cost necessarily incurred associated with the rental of the property and such cost may include insurance premia, loan/mortgage repayments, maintenance etc.

The above information relating to the assessment of savings and investments under the over 70s medical card scheme is available on my Department's website at www.dohc.ie and I have also asked the HSE to ensure that it is available on its website (www.hse.ie). Persons can also contact their local HSE office or the HSE "infoline" at 1850-24-1850 for further information. The HSE has also prepared detailed assessment guidelines for staff in relation to the over 70s medical card scheme.