Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

202. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce legislative changes that allow for persons who suffer from chronic illnesses to automatically receive medical cards regardless of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8412/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the person's overall financial situation, including the means and expenditure of the applicant and his or her partner. As the Deputy will be aware, there is no legal basis for the HSE to award a medical card/GP visit card to persons with serious medical conditions on the basis of their medical condition alone, irrespective of their income/means.

Persons who have a medical condition will have their medical circumstances considered as part of an assessment of eligibility on discretionary grounds of ‘undue hardship’/’undue burden’ for grant of a medical card or GP visit card, in the event that their application does not qualify on an assessment of means.

Medical cards can also be provided on emergency grounds, for a period of six months, where a patient is terminally ill in palliative care. No means test applies and the nature of the terminal illness is not a deciding factor in the issue of an emergency medical card in these circumstances. Given the nature and urgency of the issue, the HSE has appropriate escalation routes to ensure that the person gets the card as quickly as possible. Furthermore, the HSE ensures that the system responds to the variety of circumstances and complexities faced by individuals in these circumstances. There are no proposals to introduce any legislative changes to the Health Act 1970, as amended, with regards to the definition of full eligibility.