Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of increasing the current income limit for medical cards, of €184 per week, to the €304 threshold for the GP visit card. [15521/23]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of increasing the over-70s medical card income thresholds of €550 for a single person to €700 and of €1,050 for a couple to €1,400. [15523/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 177 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. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costswhich help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie

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. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.

With regard to the estimated costs 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 costs at this time. 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.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Health the amount budgeted for the planned increase in the income limit for the GP visit card for persons on a median household income of €46,000 or less. [15522/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It was announced in Budget 2023 that eligibility for GP Visit Cards is to be extended to people who earn no more than the median household income. Income thresholds will be adjusted for people living alone and for those with children and further operational details will be made available prior to commencement. It is envisaged that the expansion will be supported by a significant package of additional capacity supports to GP practices.

Funding for the expansion was provided in Budget 2023 within an extensive €107 million package for new cost of living measures. Other measures included within that funding package are the abolition of all inpatient hospital charges from April 2023, the continuation of the reduction in the threshold for the Drug Payment Scheme at €80 per month, and the extension of the free contraception scheme from 1 September 2023 to cover all women aged 17-30 inclusive. Funding was also provided in Budget 2023 to include 16 year-olds in the free contraception scheme however this is subject to consultation, legal advice and legislative amendment.