Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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483. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the expenses of those aged 70 years and over are not taken into account when assessing for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48243/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Medical Card and GP Visit Card eligibility under the scheme for persons aged 70 or older is solely based on an assessment of gross income.

For persons aged 70 or older who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income limits that apply, they may also have their eligibility assessed under the standard means tested medical card scheme. This assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses. 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.