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.

Since December 2018, the medical card earnings disregard for people in receipt of Disability Allowance was increased from €120 to €427 per week. It applies to the assessment process for both single people and to family assessments. This measure gave effect to an important recommendation of the Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities report. It enables people in receipt of the disability allowance to have a higher level of earnings and still retain their medical card.

The HSE does not routinely collate information to facilitate a detailed breakdown in the manner sought. The HSE has, however, provided a high-level analysis which indicates that 3,000 persons approximately are estimated to have benefited from the measure. The substantial increase in allowable earnings introduced in 2018 acknowledges that a Medical Card is a particularly significant support and ensures that people with disabilities can continue to be supported to access care when needed.

Furthermore, people who have been on a disability payment for at least a year can retain a Medical Card for a further three years on return to work, provided they were in receipt of the payment for a period of at least 12 months prior to commencing employment.