Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1883.To ask the Minister for Health to provide the latest annual (or quarterly) estimate for the reduction in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards and the increase in the number of people in receipt of GP visit cards, and to state whether he will give a commitment to increase or at least stop the decline in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards in 2025, given the healthy state of the public finances and the very large increase in the HSE budget.[35584/24]

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 (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.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department keeps medical card issues under review in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs. Over the course of 2024 and 2025, we will review the existing eligibility framework to clearly assess what is working well and to inform policy proposals to enhance eligibility and access to services based on robust evidence. This is an important step towards delivering on universal healthcare in Ireland.

Regarding the latest annual (or quarterly) estimate for the reduction in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards and the increase in the number of people in receipt of GP Visit cards, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1884.To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost on Budget day for the November 2020 increase in income thresholds for over 70s entitlement to a full medical card and what the actual out-turn cost was.[35585/24]

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 (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 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. 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. Budget 2020 provided for an expansion of some primary care schemes, including the increase in income thresholds for over 70s, with €45 million announced for allocation to support these measures.

Regarding the actual out-turn cost, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.