Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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159. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to exclude persons over 70 years of age from the medical card review process in view of the fact that their income is unlikely to change and in some cases they find it extremely difficult to gather the information required due to age related difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48462/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Persons over 70 years of age do not have automatic eligibility for a medical card, however, under the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013, they do have a simplified application process where, when a person attains the age of 70, the medical card income limits are €500 gross income per week for a single person and €900 gross income per week for a couple.  Medical Cards, including those issued to persons over the age of 70, are subject to periodic review to determine if the person still meets the eligibility criteria.  This is part of the normal oversight function of the HSE and there are no plans to change this process for persons aged over 70 years of age.

Where a notice of Review of a Medical Card has been initiated it is important to note that this is provided 3 months in advance of the date of expiry. This is to afford individuals an extensive time period to provide any required documentation. Furthermore, it is important to clarify that during the review process persons will continue to hold eligibility.  Any person who is experiencing difficulties providing particular information within this period should contact the HSE as the card’s validity may be extended when the review is continuing.