Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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267. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide a general practitioner visit card to members of the Defence Forces on discharge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35099/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Eligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card and is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.

  If an applicant’s income is over the limit for a medical card or GP visit card, they may still qualify for a discretionary card.  Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants 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/GP visit card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.

I can advise the Deputy that there are no plans at present to provide a general practitioner visit card to members of the Defence Forces on discharge.