Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2025
613. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm whether the recent €10 weekly increase in pension payments will be matched by an equivalent increase in medical card income thresholds for older persons, to ensure that pensioners do not lose eligibility as a result of the pension adjustment. [64880/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra615. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the year in which medical card income thresholds for persons aged 70 and over were last revised, and the rationale for not indexing thresholds to inflation, pension adjustments or cost of living changes. [64882/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra616. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department conducted an equality or social impact assessment on the effect of raising pensions without adjusting medical card thresholds, particularly for older persons living alone. [64883/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra621. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department will consider aligning medical card thresholds with annual pension increases as part of future budget cycles; and if this option has been costed. [64888/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 613, 615, 616 and 621 together.
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 69 and under 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. Detailed guidelines are available at: [Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie].
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. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs.
In response to the Deputy’s query regarding State pension payment increases, it is important to note that where a person's sole income is derived from a social protection payment, he/she will be awarded a medical card.
It is important to acknowledge that the administration of medical card exists within a wider eligibility framework, for example:
• since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card
• under the Long-Term Illness Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
• under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) no individual pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
• Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of qualifying health expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
Furthermore, there are a range of additional measures implemented over recent Budgets to increase access and affordability to healthcare, for example:
• In 2023, GP visit card means-tested eligibility was extended to those who earn up to the median household income
• GP visit card eligibility was extended from all children under 6 to children under 8, and
• Public in-patient charges in public hospitals were abolished.
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.
