Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider extending to the families of children with serious chronic illness the current provisions for medical card renewal by persons over 70 years which allow them to renew the card by signing an affidavit that their circumstances have not changed in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26225/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Under the General Medical Card Scheme, medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of general practitioners services. Eligibility for the medical card is based primarily on the means of the adult and his/her spouse or civil partner. Two years is now the average period nationally for which an individual or family holds a medical card before formal review under the General Medical Scheme (GMS). The review process is an important quality assurance aspect of the management of the GMS.

The medical card review process for the over 70's is based on separate legislation and the process has been simplified to facilitate older persons where there has been no change in their circumstances. Where changes in circumstances have occurred, the case is reviewed in the normal way. The HSE has no plans to change these arrangements.