Written answers
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Department of Health and Children
Medical Cards
5:00 pm
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35493/10]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Medical cards are made available by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In general, eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is determined following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants (income and relevant outgoings). In assessing a medical card/GP visit card application, the HSE uses guidelines based on people's means which includes their income after tax and PRSI, and takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, childcare and travel to work. The assessment process also takes account of other factors, such as medical need, which may impact on people's ability to meet the cost of GP services.
Under the HSE's Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines, savings or similar investments of €36,000 for a single person are disregarded.
- The next €10,000 in savings is assessed as income of one Euro per week per €1,000.
- The next €10,000 in savings is assessed as income of two Euro per week per €1,000.
Savings in excess of the above are assessed as income of four Euro per week per €1,000.
I attach a table for the Deputy which gives details of the current Medical Card and GP Visit Card income guidelines.
| Category | Medical Card Weekly amount (€) | GP Visit Card Weekly amount (€) |
| Single person Living Alone | ||
| Aged up to 65 years | 184.00 | 276.00 |
| Aged between 66-69 years | 201.50 | 302.00 |
| Single person living with family | ||
| Aged up to 65 years | 164.00 | 246.00 |
| Aged between 66-69 years | 173.50 | 260.00 |
| Married Couple/Single Parent Families with Dependant Children | ||
| Aged up to 65 years | 266.50 | 400.00 |
| Aged between 66-69 years | 298.00 | 447.00 |
| Allowances for Dependent Children | ||
| For each of the first two children | 38.00 | 57.00 |
| For third and each subsequent child | 41.00 | 61.50 |
| For each of the first two children aged over 16 | 39.00 | 58.50 |
| For third and each subsequent child aged over 16 | 42.50 | 64.00 |
| Dependant over 16 years in full-time education and not grant-aided | ||
| Allowance for each child | 78.00 | 117.00 |
In relation to the particular case referred to by the Deputy, based on the information supplied it is not possible to make a definitive assessment regarding medical card eligibility. However, if the person contacts the HSE's local health office with all relevant information, including income from the widow's pension, children's allowance, etc. and details of savings and relevant outgoings, such as mortgage, childcare, travel to work and medical expenses, the HSE staff will be able to make a determination regarding medical card or GP visit card qualification.
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