Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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208. To ask the Minister for Health if it is possible for a person in receipt of the automatic extra €10 for being over 80 years of age to give up that extra payment to enable them to meet medical card gross income limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47422/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Medical Card and GP Visit Card eligibility for persons aged 70 or older is based on assessment on a gross income basis and takes account of all income, as set out in the Health Act 1970 (As Amended).

For persons aged 70 or older who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds that apply, they may also have their eligibility assessed under the means tested medical card scheme. This assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses and the qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over-70s gross income thresholds. If a person is means assessed ineligible for a medical card under the general scheme, and that person has other social, medical or financial circumstances relevant to an assessment of their ability to provide for their medical needs or the medical needs of any dependants they may have, these factors will be considered to decide if a medical card or GP visit card should be approved on discretionary grounds under the 'undue hardship' or 'undue burden' provision of the medical card scheme.