Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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667. To ask the Minister for Health if it is still policy that a medical card-GP visit card holder who genuinely engages with a review will not have their eligibility withdrawn before that review is complete; and the reason in some cases this policy is not being adhered to. [16655/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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All medical card and GP visit card holders are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility.

A person (and their dependants, if it applies), the subject of a medical card/GP visit card eligibility review assessment, will continue to have their eligibility extended pending the outcome of a review assessment, provided

1. they have returned their review form within the time specified, and

2. are engaging with the HSE in enabling their review assessment to complete.

The medical card/GP visit card holder does not need to take any action other than genuinely co-operate with the review process and communicate with the HSE on an ongoing basis throughout the process. If the HSE is made aware that a person has a disability or special needs, assistance will be afforded to help that person complete the review application and explain the support documentation they need to send. The local health office can be contacted or LoCall 1890 252 919 to request this assistance.

In addition, a person (and their dependants, if any) that is assessed on review as ineligible for medical card/GP visit card renewal and makes appeal of this decision within the time allowed, will retain their eligibility pending the appeal decision.

If the Deputy wishes to provide information about a particular individual whose eligibility was withdrawn, prior to the conclusion of a medical card review and while co-operating with the HSE, I will arrange to have the matter investigated further.