Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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129. To ask the Minister for Health the HSE's policy on medical card holders over 70 years of age who have been bereaved where the resulting change in circumstances means they no longer qualify for a medical card in their own right; if special allowances made in terms of income are taken into consideration in view of the particular circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2299/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines for People aged 70 years and Overobliges that in the event of the death of a person covered who attains the over 70 medical card, the surviving spouse/ partner who is over the age of 70 years will retain the medical card for a period of three years providing that the death occurred on or after January 2009, that the surviving spouse/ partner was aged 70 or over at the time of death and that he or she remains within the relevant income limits for a couple that are relevant to the period when the applicant is being assessed. At the expiry of the three year period, he or she will be assessed under the single persons’ income limits.

If the surviving spouse or partner is under 70 years he or she will be assessed in accordance with the General Medical Card/GP visit card scheme using the appropriate income limits.