Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the basis on which a person over 70 years who has surrendered their medical card and subsequently re-applies for a card, is means tested; if the €700 cut-off point is used or if they are assessed on the income limit for a single person under 70 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14647/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the new arrangements effected by the Health Act 2008, a much simplified system of assessment for eligibility was introduced in respect of persons aged 70 and over, based on gross income rather than net income, as applies otherwise for means-testing of eligibility for medical cards.

The simplified approach taken for persons aged 70 and over who held a medical card prior to 31st December 2008 is close to a self-assessment system. In introducing the measures, I emphasised my belief in the honesty and integrity of the vast majority of older persons in our society.

Long-standing provisions of the Health Act 1970, as amended, continue to apply. For instance, under Section 49 (1) there is a requirement for a person to notify the HSE of any change in his/her circumstances which would render him/her ineligible for services. In addition, under Section 50, when a person has obtained a service and it is later ascertained that he/she was not entitled to the service, the HSE may charge the individual for any services provided to him/her for the period for which he/she had no entitlement. Failure to notify the HSE or the use of a service one is not entitled to is an offence on summary conviction.

Where a person aged 70 or over does not qualify for a medical card by virtue of their gross income being over the specified thresholds, he/she may apply to the HSE for a medical card or GP visit card under the existing net income thresholds, which allow for medical, nursing and other relevant expenses to be taken into account (The net weekly income thresholds for a medical card are €201.50 (single person) and €298 (couple) and for a GP visit card are €302 (single person) and €447 (couple).

Notwithstanding the above, the HSE may issue a medical card on a discretionary basis, if the applicant would otherwise be caused undue hardship in providing general medical and surgical services for himself/herself and any dependants.

Persons who are in any way confused by the new scheme are encouraged to seek advice from their local health office which will continue to provide any necessary support, and which along with the HSE National Helpline (1850 24 1850), will handle enquiries from clients in respect of their medical card entitlements.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if certain people over 70 years have been removed from the list of people approved for medical cards which is used by pharmacists; if so, the basis for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14648/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Following enactment of the Health Act 2008, the Health Service Executive (HSE) wrote to all medical card holders aged 70 years and over in January 2009. Persons who were in receipt of a medical card on a non means tested basis were requested, if over the income limits set out in the Act, to make a declaration to the Executive, on or before the 2nd March 2009.

To-date, 19,954 medical cards for persons aged 70 and over have been returned or removed from the medical card register. 10,690 of these cards were returned to the HSE by persons aged 70 or over whose weekly income was in excess of the specified thresholds and a further 9,264 medical cards were removed from the medical card register as part of a data quality exercise, where for example, the HSE had been advised that the card holder is deceased or the card holder was not known at the address, etc.

If card holders have been removed from the HSE's medical card register where they have not declared to the HSE that they are in excess of the specified thresholds, they should contact their Local Health Office immediately and as soon as the details can be confirmed, their General Medical Services eligibility will be restored. Local Health Offices will continue to deal with queries of a general nature about the medical card scheme and will provide any assistance needed with the application process, and along with the National Helpline (1850 24 1850), will deal with enquiries from clients in respect of their medical card entitlements and completion of application forms.