Free GP visits for all over 70s, Taoiseach tells Dáil

The Government has agreed that everyone over 70 will be entitled to free GP services, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil.

The agreement has been reached as part of the discussions between Mr Kenny and new Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton about key policy priorities, in the run up to a Cabinet reshuffle.

The Taoiseach signalled the change in the Dáil today during the Order of Business, after questions from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

Mr Martin said up to 35,000 older people over 70 were having their medical card taken. He said they had been told to apply for discretionary medical cards on the basis of the income thresholds for under 70s.

“Some very sick people are losing their medical card - 90-year-olds, 80-year-olds,” he said. “And even if they have a very serious condition that would in ordinary times would merit a medical card, they are not getting it.”

He said it “beggars belief that you’re saying you’re going to bring in universal health coverage but at the same time you’re actually taking away vital medical cards from elderly people in this country who need them”.

The Taoiseach said the Government considering a number of options in the roll-out of primary cares services for different categories including the over 70s.

“Government has made a decision that all persons over 70 will obviously be entitled to access to GP services,” Mr Kenny told him.

Under medical card eligibility income limits revised in January this year people over 70 were entitled to a medical car so long as their gross income did not exceed €500 a week for a single person or €900 for a couple.

They were entitled to a free GP visit card if their income was over €500 but less than €700 for a single person and €1,400 for a couple.

Their income from savings and investments was capped at €36,000 for a single person and €72,000 for a couple for eligibility.

However if they exceeded the income limits they could still qualify under the assessment process if their circumstances were causing financial hardship, such as medical or nursing home costs.