Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 and is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances. Current medical card income thresholds can be considered generally in terms of cohorts aged 70 or older, and those under 70 years of age, with separate thresholds and assessment criteria for each.

Since March 2021, persons who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less are now also awarded a medical card on an administrative basis. Separately, the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 provides for an exemption of up to €14,000 Rent a Room income from the medical card assessment process for participants on the Rent-a-Room scheme. This measure will assist in removing potential barriers to people benefiting from the Rent-a-Room scheme and is an important step towards the Government's goal of providing additional accommodation to alleviate acknowledged challenges with the availability of residential rental accommodation.

In circumstances where an applicant may be over the income limit for a medical card, they may be eligible for a GP visit card. A GP visit card allows the holder to visit a participating family doctor (GP) without charge. Under the GP Agreement 2023, GP visit card eligibility was extended from being available to all children under 6 years to all children under 8 years from 11th August 2023. GP visit card means-tested eligibility was also fully expanded, as per that Agreement, to all those who earn up to the median household income from November 2023 (having commenced in September 2023). As of 1st August 2024 there are approximately 1,581,000 medical cards and 691,000 GP visit cards, which means that 43% of the population have access to GP services without charge.

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 number of cards in operation in 2021, 2022 and 2023, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.