248 Deputy Mary Wallace asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria under which a person over 70 years of age may qualify for a medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7802/10]

Under the Health Act 2008, the income thresholds for entitlement to a medical card for those aged 70 or over is €700 (gross) per week (€36,500 per year) for a single person and €1,400 (gross) per week (€73,000 per year) for a couple. Where the spouse/partner is under 70 years of age, he/she can qualify under the over 70s medical card scheme if the combined gross incomes of the applicant and dependant spouse/partner are within the income threshold limit of €1,400 (gross) per week.

Where a person aged 70 or over does not qualify for a medical card, by virtue of their gross income being over the specified thresholds, the person may apply to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for a medical card or GP visit card under the existing net income thresholds, which allow for medical, nursing and other relevant expenses to be taken into account. The net income medical card thresholds that pertain for a person aged 70 or over are €201.50 per week for a single person and €298 per week for a couple and in the case of a GP visit card they are €302 per week for a single person and €447 for a couple.

Notwithstanding the above, the HSE may issue a medical card on a discretionary basis, if the applicant would otherwise be caused undue hardship in providing general medical and surgical services for himself / herself and any dependants. The Executive takes all social and medical issues into account in determining whether or not undue hardship exists.

The over 70s medical card assessment guidelines are available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie.

249 Deputy Mary Wallace asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria a person under 70 years of age may qualify for a medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7803/10]

The assessment of eligibility for a medical card is statutorily a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and is determined following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants. Under Section 45 of the Health 1970, medical cards are provided for persons who, in the opinion of the HSE, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Under Section 58 of the Health Act 1970, as amended, GP visit cards are provided for adult persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the HSE, and notwithstanding that they do not qualify for a medical card, it would be unduly burdensome to arrange GP medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants.

In assessing eligibility, the HSE uses guidelines based on people's means, which includes their income, certain allowable outgoings and the affect of other factors which may impact on people's ability to meet the cost of GP services for themselves and their families.

The following table contains the current income guidelines for medical cards and GP visit cards for persons applying for a medical card under the general medical card scheme.

Notwithstanding the above, the HSE may issue a medical card on a discretionary basis, if the applicant would otherwise be caused undue hardship in providing general medical and surgical for himself / herself and any dependants. The Executive takes all social and medical issues into account in determining whether or not undue hardship exists.

Additional guideline allowances will be given for:

Reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent/mortgage payments;

Reasonable expenses incurred in respect of childcare costs;

Reasonable expenses incurred in travel to work.

The assessment of eligibility for medical cards will be based on the combined income of the applicant and spouse (if any) after tax, PRSI and Income Levy have been deducted.

Applicants whose weekly incomes are derived solely from Social Welfare or Health Service Executive allowances/payments, which are in excess of the Financial Guidelines (either at first application or renewal) qualify for a medical card.