Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Medical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.

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 costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. The applicable income thresholds for this cohort, as administered by the HSE during the relevant years referenced, are set out within the HSE Medical Card National Assessment Guidelines available at National Medical Card Assessment Guidelines (hse.ie).

Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. The thresholds for weekly gross income in respect of eligibility for medical cards for those aged over 70 are set out as follows.

Over 70s Medical Card Income Thresholds

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 €1050 for a couple. This increase helps to ensure that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over qualify for a medical card. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.