Written answers

Wednesday, 17 December 2014

Department of Health

Medical Card Administration

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Health the reason income is calculated differently for those under 70 and over 70 who apply for medical cards (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48642/14]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Applications for persons aged 70 years and older can be assessed both on the basis of the standard national assessment guidelines and on the basis of the guidelines for persons aged 70 years or over.

Under the Health Act 2008, automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over ended on 31 December 2008. Under the arrangements effected by the Act, a revised system of assessment for eligibility was introduced for those 70 years of age and over, based on the significantly higher gross income limits rather than the standard net income thresholds. Gross income, in respect of the over 70's medical card scheme refers to total basic income prior to any or all deductions being made. This advantageous arrangement for persons aged over 70 years has facilitated a much greater share of this cohort qualifying for a medical card compared to the general population as a whole. There are no proposals to change this assessment process and it is not seen to constitute discrimination under equality legislation.

In the main, persons in the over-70s age cohort do not have the same outlays and expenses as those under 70 years of age who are assessed on a means basis. The assessment of eligibility under the standard means tested medical card scheme is based on the combined income of the applicant and spouse or partner (if any) after tax, PRSI and USC have been deducted . Allowance may be made for rent/mortgage, travel to work and child care costs. Generally, for the over 70s, mortgages have been cleared, children have been catered for and they would not have travel to work related costs.

Furthermore, persons aged over 70 years may still be eligible for a medical card where discretion is exercised where they face undue hardship in arranging medical services as a result of medical or social circumstances.

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