Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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266. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11439/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a medical card holder who had their application approved in September 2013 with expiry date August 2015 has now received correspondence from the Health Service Executive stating that a review form will have to be submitted prior to the end of March 2014; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the necessity to go through the application process causes stress and concern to such applicants, particularly older persons; if account is not taken of the fact that the application was only approved relatively recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11452/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Eligibility for a medical card only exists for so long as a person continues to meet the criteria set out in the Health Act 1970, as amended. All card holders may be subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility. Each person eligible for a medical or GP visit card receives a plastic card on which a "valid to" date is printed. This is the latest date that a review may be conducted in respect of that person. Notwithstanding the "valid to" date printed on the card, the HSE reserves the right to review eligibility at any time and to take appropriate action in circumstances where the cardholder no longer fulfils the criteria for eligibility under the medical card-GP visit card national assessment guidelines.

The income thresholds for medical card and GP visit card eligibility for persons aged 70 or older changed with effect from 1st January 2014. In line with these changes, the HSE has initiated reviews of those holding over-70s medical cards to confirm that they continue to meet the criteria for eligibility. The cardholders are being offered the option of completing their review online or by manual review.