Written answers

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Department of Health

Medical Card Administration

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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526. To ask the Minister for Health if a medical card is for life and is not subject to review or modification in cases where the card is issued under EU regulation 883-04; if he will ensure that this right to a medical card is applied in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39806/17]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Regulation (EC) 883/04 and Implementing Regulation 987/09 provide for the coordination of social security systems, including healthcare, within the EE/EEA and Switzerland, with the aim of ensuring the free movement of persons. This objective of the Regulation is to ensure that persons exercising their right to move and to stay freely within the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not suffer disadvantage.

Medical cards may be issued to EU/EEA citizens under EU Regulation 883/04 if the person is in receipt of a contributory social insurance payment from one, or more, of the Member States, provided they are not receiving a contributory social insurance payment from the Irish State. These medical cards are issued on an individual basis and the income of a spouse/partner is not relevant. EU/EEA citizens who are in receipt of a qualifying payment from another Member State should make an application for a medical card directly to the HSE. Such applicants are not means tested. The application should be accompanied, as evidence that they are receiving a qualifying payment, by the relevant EU "S" form issued by the Member State making their payment, and as such these cards will be subject to periodic reviews in order to ensure that the person is still in receipt of the qualifying payment.

The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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