Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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1088. To ask the Minister for Health if persons who are eligible for a general medical card under the new criteria once enacted will receive a refund for prescription costs incurred from July 2020 (details supplied). [15019/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 was published on 1 July. This Bill provides, amongst other things, for the necessary legislative amendments to increase the weekly gross medical card income limits for those aged 70 and over to €550 per week for a single person (currently €500 per week) and to €1,050 for a couple (currently €900 per week).

The Bill is expected to proceed through the Houses of the Oireachtas in mid-July.

Eligibility for a medical card is granted on the date when a completed application has been assessed and the applicant is awarded eligibility for a medical card under the scheme guidelines. Expenditure incurred prior to qualifying for a medical card is not reimbursable.