Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number under 70 years medical cards he expects to remove in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57233/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I take it the Deputy is referring to the measure announced in the recent Budget to tighten the rules relating to a person’s spending and earnings that is disregarded when carrying out the means test for the standard medical card.

A date has not been set for the implementation of these new rules. In advance of that, the Department will develop this proposal in more detail in consultation with the HSE. The new rules and the implementation date will be announced and publicised in advance by the Department and the HSE.

Until the specific changes have been identified, it is not possible to estimate the number of cardholders that will be affected