The Health Service Executive (HSE) has said it expects to have all applications it received from people over 70 years of age seeking to retain their medical cards processed within the next two weeks.
While today marks the date on which medical cards held by those over 70 years who are above certain income thresholds become invalid, it appears there will be a number of days grace allowed as the HSE is still deliberating on applications it received.
It wouldn’t say yesterday how many applications were on hand but it said: “The Health Service Executive is dealing with the responses to the 350,000 letters that were issued to medical card holders in respect of the new over-70s medical card scheme and it is planned that all of the responses received to date will be processed within the next five to 10 working days.”
It said details of the numbers qualifying will be made available as soon as this process is completed.
The letters were issued by the HSE after the controversial Government decision to abolish the automatic entitlement of all over- 70s to medical cards.
The letters stated that recipients needed to take no action and they could continue to use their medical cards if their total gross income was less than €700 a week (€36,500 a year) for a single person or €1,400 a week (€73,000 a year) for a couple.
For recipients whose incomes were greater than these amounts they were told to notify the HSE by March 2nd. They were also advised they could still apply for a medical card and could be eligible if their health costs caused them undue financial hardship.
Last year there were 350,000 people in the State over 70 with medical cards and about 140,000 of these had never been means-tested for their cards. Health Minister Mary Harney estimated that as a result of the current exercise being carried out by the HSE about 20,000 over-70s would lose their medical cards.
The HSE said last night that any person over 70 who is over the income limits set out in the Health Act 2008 and who has not yet made a declaration to the HSE should do so immediately.
“Persons who are over the income limits are not automatically entitled to a medical card and cannot validly use a medical card to avail of free health services after 2nd March 2009. Any person, who knowingly makes a false statement regarding their eligibility for a medical card is liable to the sanctions set out under the Health Acts. The HSE will be commencing spot checks regarding eligibility for services and will be communicating with doctors and pharmacists regarding this matter,” it said.
For those over-70s refused medical cards under the new regime but who feel they should be entitled to one because of their unique circumstances, appeals can be lodged.