Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1553. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider making the three-year retention of the medical card permanent for people with intellectual disabilities and autism who gain employment, in order to remove barriers to work and support long-term inclusion in the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30162/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.

The issue of granting medical cards on the basis of illness or a disability was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.

However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.

It is important to note that there are significant measures already in place to assist people with a disability, who are engaging in the workforce, to continue to be supported to access care when needed. For example:

• People who have been on a disability payment for at least a year can retain a medical card for a further three years on return to work, provided they were unemployed and in receipt of the full rate of payment for a period of at least 12 months prior to commencing employment.
• Furthermore, since December 2018, the medical card earnings disregard for people in receipt of Disability Allowance was increased from €120 to €427 per week and applies to the assessment process for single people and to family assessments. This significant policy change gave effect to an important recommendation of the Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities report. This substantial increase in allowable earnings acknowledges that a Medical Card is a particularly significant support and ensures that people with disabilities can continue to be supported to access care when needed.