Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2676. To ask the Minister for Health to estimate the cost of providing a medical card to all individuals receiving the carer’s allowance if the means test is removed. [47509/25]

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. 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. Persons under 70 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. Details are available at www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/.

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 in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

Where a person's sole income is derived from a social protection payment, he/she will be awarded a medical card. Carer’s Allowance is not an assessable income in the medical card assessment process. However, Carer’s Benefit can be assessable where a person has income from other sources.

In addition, since September 2018, individuals in receipt of either a full or half-rate Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit are automatically eligible for a GP visit card. A GP visit card entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.

In relation to the cost of the provision of medical cards to Carer’s Allowance recipients, the data required to model this proposal is not readily available to my Department and it is therefore not possible to provide an estimated cost. Specifically, relevant data regarding the number of existing Carer’s Allowance recipients already holding a medical card or a GP visit card, and the potential number of new Carer’s Allowance recipients arising should the means test be removed, is unavailable.

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 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.