David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the medical card threshold by €100, €200, €300 and €400 per week for persons over and for under 70 years by category in tabular form; the level that this would rise to; the number of additional households which would likely qualify for eligibility; the estimated total cost assuming 100% uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35125/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of expanding full medical card entitlement to 50% and 75% of the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35126/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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293. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the general practitioner visit threshold by €100, €200, €300 and €400 per week for persons under 70 tears by category in tabular form; the level that this would rise to; the number of additional households which would likely qualify for eligibility; the estimated total cost assuming 100% uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35127/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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294. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of expanding general practitioner visit card entitlement to 50% and 75% of the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35128/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 to 294, inclusive, together.

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.

With regard to the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income thresholds for medical cards and GP visit cards and the additional cost of expanding full medical card and GP visit card entitlement, this information is not readily available at this time. I wish to assure the Deputy that the current medical/GP visit card income thresholds are kept under review and any changes that may be required would be considered in the context of broader Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and other issues which may be relevant for consideration.