Written answers

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1774. To ask the Minister for Health if persons with Down syndrome are entitled to a medical card; the reason some holders of a medical card who have Down syndrome are having their medical cards reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15400/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.

The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.

However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from, the social and medical impacts of an illness.

In relation to the processing of eligibility reviews, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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