Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 218: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the entitlements to a medical card, dental and optical benefits and so on for a 26 year old full time university student living at home; the regulations regarding same; if family income is still the over-riding measure; if at 25 years they are treated on their own income, which is nil; if a medical card is linked to provision of education grants; and if social welfare entitlements to dental and optical would be automatic if their parents have an entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21468/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The assessment of eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is a statutory function of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and eligibility is determined following the examination of the means of the applicant and of his/her dependants. Under Section 45 of the Health Act 1970 medical cards are provided to persons who, in the opinion of the HSE, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants.

Under the Health Services (No. 3) Regulations, 1983 (S.I. No. 381 of 1983) persons aged between 16 and 25 years, who are financially dependent on their parents qualify for a medical card and associated benefits if their parents are medical card holders.

Students aged 26 years and above are assessed independently and the determination of eligibility for a medical card is based on their own income. The assessment is carried out in accordance with the general medical card / GP visit card income guidelines and in this regard, third-level education maintenance grants are disregarded when assessing income.

Persons with a medical card are entitled to general practitioner services, prescribed drugs, medicines and appliances, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances, child health services, home nursing and a maternity and infant care service. They are also exempt from paying the health levy and the income levy.

The range of dental services for adult medical card holders available under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme from participating dentists holding contracts with the HSE, includes examinations, fillings, extractions, dentures, x-rays and certain root canal treatment.

The range of optical services for adult medical card holders available under the Community Optometric Services Scheme and the Community Spectacle Dispensing Services Scheme from participating ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians holding contracts with the HSE, includes eye examinations and the dispensing of spectacles where necessary.

My Department is informed by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that Treatment Benefits consist of three separate benefit types: (i) Dental Benefit (ii) Optical Benefit (iii) Medical Appliance (Hearing Aid) Benefit These schemes are PRSI based and offer assistance to persons who satisfy certain qualifying conditions and to their dependent spouses under certain qualifying conditions. These schemes do not cover children of parents who are qualified.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 219: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21520/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.