Update: Eligibility for Medical Card – Health 23rd October, 2014

 
  *  To ask the Minister for Health the reason that eligibility for a medical card in respect of single person is €500 per week and for a couple €900 per week; whether this differentiation meets with EU and equality legislation requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

                                                                                         Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

 
REPLY.
The gross income limit for an over 70’s medical card was set in law at €500 per week for a single person and at €900 per week for a couple from 1 January 2014. The Government recognises that the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half the living costs of a couple living together and that expenditure does not necessarily diminish relative to the number of people in the household . This is recognised, inter alia, through the provision of the Living Alone Increase and differential income limits for medical cards for persons aged under 70 years between individuals and couples. In that context, the over 70’s income limit for a single person was reduced proportionately less than the income limit for a couple under this Budget change. There are no proposals to change this assessment process and it is not seen to constitute discrimination under equality legislation.