Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to remove the requirement for Apert syndrome sufferers to have to continually re-apply for their medical cards; if his attention has been drawn to the stress that the current re-application requirement and procedure places on sufferers and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28923/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 HSE has no plans to change these arrangements.