Written answers

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Department of Health

Medical Card Eligibility

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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425. To ask the Minister for Health if those receiving a pension from the United Kingdom and living here will still be entitled to a non-means tested medical card despite the United Kingdom no longer being part of the European Union. [19162/16]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Regulation (EC) 883/2004 deals with the coordination of social security, including health care, for those moving within the European Union. Under its provisions, persons residing in Ireland who are attached to the social security system of another member state, are entitled to receive health care services in Ireland at the cost of that member state provided they are not subject to Irish social security legislation. Persons in this category are entitled to full eligibility and receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement.

The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to a medical card or a GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of his or her entitlement. In assessing an application under the EU Regulations the HSE will establish if the person is subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI. If so, the person will not qualify for a medical card under EU legislation, but may qualify for a means-tested medical card under national legislation.

The result of the recent EU Referendum in the UK means that the UK electorate have declared their wish to leave the EU. It is important to be clear that the UK has not yet left the EU. Until it formally withdraws from the Union, it remains a full Member, with all of its existing rights and obligations.

I wish to assure the Deputy that there will be no immediate changes in the area of health as a consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Health cooperation between the UK and Ireland will not be affected in the immediate term. Arrangements are in place, building on an already completed initial risk assessment plan, to consider any longer-term implications of the referendum result.

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