David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1056. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding medical card eligibility by increasing the weekly income limit by €25, €50, €75, €100, €125, €150, €175 and €200, by category in tabular form; the existing threshold and the new threshold for each; the estimated number of newly eligible persons and households for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38003/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1057. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding medical card eligibility by increasing the weekly income limit by 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% and 50% by category in tabular form; the existing threshold and the new threshold for each; the estimated number of newly eligible individuals and households for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38004/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1086. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly gross income limit for a single person or persons who are married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership for the over-70s medical card by €50 a week, by €100 a week and by €150 a week; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38078/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1087. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit for a single person aged under 66 years to qualify for a medical card by €25, by €50, by €75 and by €100 a week; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38079/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1088. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit for a single person aged over 66 years to qualify for a medical card by €25, by €50, by €75 and by €100 a week; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38080/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1089. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit for a single person living with family aged under 66 years to qualify for a medical card by €25, by €50, by €75 and by €100 a week; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38081/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1090. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit for a single person living with family aged over 66 to qualify for a medical card by €25, by €50, by €75 and by €100 a week; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38082/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1091. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit for a couple, married, cohabiting, civil partners or single parent with dependent children for persons aged under 66 years to qualify for a medical card by €25, by €50, by €75 and by €100 a week; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38083/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1092. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit for a couple, married, cohabiting, civil partners or single parent with dependent children for persons aged over 66 years to qualify for a medical card by €25, by €50, by €75 and by €100 a week; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38084/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1056, 1057 and 1086 to 1092, 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. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.

Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account, i.e. mortgage payments, which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card.

Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. It should be noted that in November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple. This increase ensures that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over now qualify for a medical card.

With regard to the estimated cost of the deputy's proposals, the data required to model these are not readily available and it is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the associated cost, number of cards, or other requested figures.

However, I wish to assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues, including the current medical card income thresholds under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and other issues which may be relevant.