Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 615: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some persons in the 18 to 25 age group are being denied medical cards because their income falls below the threshold set out in the Health Service Executive medical card guidelines and they are therefore presumed, sometimes incorrectly, to be in receipt of other income; if his further attention has been drawn to the hardship that this is causing to young persons in a vulnerable position who are in no way able to afford the cost of GP visits and medicines; if he will direct the HSE to end this discriminatory practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27279/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Medical card applications for persons in the 16 to 25 age group are subject to the provisions of the Health Services (No. 3) Regulations, 1983 (S.I. No. 381 of 1983), in particular, the following:

The services provided under section 58(1), 59(1) and 67(1) of the Health Act, 1970 shall not extend to persons between the ages of 16 and 25 who are dependants of persons who do not have full eligibility for the services under Part IV of the Health Act, 1970, save where it is considered by the Chief Executive Officer of the appropriate health board that such a service should be made available to such a person in order to avoid undue hardship to that person.

These regulations set out the statutory basis for the assessment of applications in respect of persons in this age category under the Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines 2009. Persons aged 16 to 25 years who are eligible for Medical Cards or GP Visit Cards are:

Persons who are dependant on holders of a Medical Card or GP Visit Card;

Financially independent persons whose means are within the income guidelines; and

Cases of undue hardship where it would be unduly burdensome to provide general practitioner or Medical and surgical services.

Applicants aged 16 to 25 are deemed to be financially independent if they are in receipt of income equivalent to or greater than the current rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Financial independence may be achieved through student loans, education grants, employment, self-employment, part-time employment, savings or social welfare payments. Persons aged 16 to 25 years who are ineligible for Medical Cards or GP Visit Cards are:

Persons who are financial dependents of persons who are not holders of a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card; and

Financially independent persons whose income does not fall within the Medical Card/GP Visit Card guidelines.