Written answers
Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Department of Health
Medical Cards
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1093. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the weekly income limit by extending the allowance for each of the first two children aged under 16 years by €38 a week for persons aged under 66 and over 66 years to qualify for a medical card; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38085/22]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1094. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit by extending the allowance for the third and each subsequent child aged under 16 years by €41 a week for persons aged under 66 and over 66 years to qualify for a medical card; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38086/22]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1095. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit by extending the allowance for each of the first two children aged over 16 years with no income by €39 a week for persons aged under 66 and over 66 years to qualify for a medical card; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38087/22]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1096. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit by extending the allowance for the third and each subsequent child aged over 16 years with no income by €42.50 a week for persons aged under 66 and over 66 years to qualify for a medical card; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38088/22]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1097. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limit by extending the allowance for each dependent over 16 years in full-time third-level education who is not grant aided by €78 a week for persons aged under 66 and over 66 years to qualify for a medical card; the estimated number of additional cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38089/22]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1093 to 1097, 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.
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