Written answers

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Department of Health

Medical Card Administration

Photo of Kate O'ConnellKate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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143. To ask the Minister for Health the savings made since the withdrawal of medical cards from adults following a diagnosis of cancer, in tabular form; if the cost of processing and rejecting applicants now outstrips the cost of removing that automatic entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8829/16]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, as amended, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. I can clarify to the Deputy that the health legislation does not have a provision for the HSE to award a medical card to persons by virtue of an illness or a medical condition. However, where an applicant’s means are above the qualifying financial thresholds, the HSE routinely examines for indications of medical or social circumstances which might result in undue financial hardship in arranging medical services and, exercising discretion, may grant eligibility for a medical card on this basis.

The Deputy may be aware of the "Keane" Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility, which made a recommendation that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card. It also recommended that it is neither feasible nor desirable to list conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility.

I would like to advise the Deputy that it is important to note that where a medical card is withdrawn - irrespective of its having been awarded based solely on means or where the HSE has exercised discretion - it is not withdrawn due on the cost implications for the HSE. In accordance with the Health Acts, a medical card can only be withdrawn due to eligibility not having been established.

As the medical condition of the applicant is not a factor in the assessment process for medical cards under the National Assessment Guidelines, the HSE does not record data on the GMS Database of this nature.

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