Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

167. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the changes to income thresholds for medical card eligibility since 2013. [10357/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

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.

With effect from April 2013, the gross income thresholds for people aged 70 and over were amended to €600 for a single person and to €1,200 a week for couples. From January 2014, the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013 amended gross weekly medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 or older to €500 per week for a single applicant and €900 per week for a couple. With effect from November 2020, the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 increased gross weekly medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 or older to €550 per week for a single applicant and €1,050 per week for a couple.

In circumstances where an applicant may be over the income limit for a medical card, Government approved the introduction of GP visit cards to enable eligible people make GP visits without charge. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014 introduced automatic eligibility for GP visit cards for those under 6 years of age. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2015 introduced automatic eligibility for GP visit cards for those aged 70 or older. Under this legislation, access to a GP service is provided to all persons over the age of 70 on a universal basis. On 1 April 2019, GP visit card weekly income thresholds were increased by 10% as part of measures announced in Budget 2019.

I can assure the Deputy that, in order 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 proposals are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.