Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Health the cost associated with returning the income limits for the over 70s medical card to €700 per week for single persons and €1,400 per week for couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29990/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 standard means tested medical card scheme, allowance may be made for rent/mortgage, travel to work and child care costs. Generally, for the over 70's, mortgages have been cleared, children have been catered for and they would not have travel to work related costs. However, persons aged 70 or older who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds may also have their eligibility assessed under the means tested medical card scheme where they face particularly high expenses, e.g., nursing home or medication costs. As I have outlined, this assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses and the qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over 70's gross income thresholds. 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.

The gross income limit for an over 70's medical card was set in legislation at €500 per week for a single person and €900 per week for a couple from 1st January 2014. Prior to that date, the limits were €600 per week for a single person and €1,200 per week for a couple. The current gross income limit for an over 70's medical card is equivalent to an annual income of €26,000 for a single person and €48,000 for a couple. There is a statutory obligation on the Minister for Health to review annually the gross income limits for medical cards and GP visit cards for persons aged 70 and over in light of changes in the Consumer Price Index. The last review was conducted in September of this year. No changes were made to the income limits on foot of the review. All persons over 70 regardless of income,qualify for access to free GP care.

The data required to calculate a definitive estimate is not held by the Primary Care Reimbursement section of the HSE, therefore it is not possible to provide an answer to the Deputy. However, it should be noted that there are no proposals at present to amend the income guidelines for the granting of eligibility for medical cards for persons aged 70 and over.