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THE MINISTER FOR Finance has confirmed that some people who lost their discretionary medical cards during recent HSE reviews will have them returned.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Michael Noonan said there was a “long discussion on medical cards at Cabinet yesterday”.
“The Minister for Health is bringing back detailed proposals. And one of them will deal with the return of medical cards for some of those people who lost them,” he added.
Earlier, Leo Varadkar had said that the HSE would examine whether the cards should be restored on medical grounds – rather than by means testing.
“Over the next week or two, the HSE is going to examine options as to how cards might be restored on medical grounds – or issued in future on medical grounds. Because at the moment, in the law, people only get medical cards on the basis of low income and not on the basis of medical need,” he explained to reporters.
The discussion at Cabinet included the unresolved issue of people who have already had their cards taken off them under the HSE review process that was ongoing for some 18 months before it was halted entirely by the government last week.
From January 2013 to April 2014 there was a fall-off of 16,000 discretionary medical cards. During the same time period, there were 22 per cent fewer people considered eligible for the cards.
As of 1 April this year, there were 1,779,103 medical cards of which 49,596 are discretionary.
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Great news that there looks to be a government reversal on this serious issue.I doubt very much if the electorate will ever forgive this government for their Thatcherite policies.They can do as many climb downs In their draconian policies as they like as a result of the local elections.But the people will give them the same message in the general election as they did in the local election
Jesus I hope that the Irish people do give them marching orders in the next general election, I also have a fear that the Irish have short memories, hope you are right, I think if we are to be guaranteed FG & L are gone for good a GE needs to happen soon not at the end of there term
You think the local elections were bad, wait until after two more eu sanctions/austerity budgets
How does the saying go again…give a man enough rope….
I wish we could bank on that Niall. Their plan is to pull a Bertie and buy the next election. Where do you think the half billion saved here and billion saved there by turning the dodgy prom notes into soverign debt has gone? They’ll be buying votes from the gullible, just like FF did. Difference is, our kids and grandkids will be picking up the tab.
But the people will give them the same message in the general election as they did in the local election”
FG got 24 % in local elections – and FF got 25 % + – a mere midterm seatback as they are both really great .
Labour were only real ones to suffer – as minor coalition partners do .
So both extreme rigt wing parties did ok – and little or no support for alternatives .
U are living in cloud cuckoo land .
By the sounds of things the medical cards issue will never be over,
Why is Noonan making this announcement. Surely it’s the job of the Minister for Health. Or does it go to prove, given Noonan’s involvement , that it’s all about money?
Of course it’s all about money. Money is what pays for everything.
A concerted plan to hide Reilly.
Sorry Noonan my vote will not change no matter what level of icing you put on the burnt cake
If your Shinners got into power would they be able to reverse all the murders that were committed in the name of a united Ireland – would they bring the dead back to life?
More gov s?ite roll onn election
Noonan statement means absolutely NOTHING. If we read the small print it says “Could” get medical cards back
Well presumably some medical cards were taken off of well-off families who don’t fall under the “financial distress” criteria in the medical card legislation.
How anyone can defend a well-off family getting a medical card where the expenses involved wouldn’t bring their income down to anywhere near the normal medical card threshold is beyond me.
The government has by giving it to all under sixes don’t you think?
It’s amazing what a few Millirems of radiation can do. It can even jolt a man’s compassionate side into action.
Who qualifies for “discretionary” cards tho? We had ours taken off as were 20€ over the limit but my daughter has chronic asthma and is in the hosp monthly with it, is asthma considered a long term medical illness…I know it might sound like a stupid question but it’s sometimes not seen in the same line as some lifetime illnesses such as Down’s syndrome etc?
Noonan to make the speech because to let Reilly do it would make him look a bigger fool than he already does – before they move him
I heard someone who had lost their medical card being grilled by a ”journalist ” the other day on radio .
She – who had lost her card was asked ” could she get by ” – twice – as if getting by was ok .
This sh#’t ” journalist would not I think ask Legarde or even Kenny – can they get by .
The media – virtually – all have an agenda – and it is not in interest of people
Perhaps the journalist was aware that medical cards were only ever to be given out to those on such low incomes that they would struggle to pay for GP visits etc.
In that context, asking a question about someone’s income seems very fair.
While former councillors bask in the advailabe cash from the state, children facing long painful and expensive treatment could maybe get a medicinal card. Noonan being over seventy gets one no matter his means. Parents should consider moving to England to receive treatment. maybe it’s what the politicians really want another problem the can export while the party on.
Here’s a quirky piece of circumstances. If you lose your card through the now suspended review but not yet accessed the appeal system here seems to be what happens. Once you appeal your medical card is given back during the appeal process. That means your appealing against a decision made by a process the government has deemed not fit for purpose. So in the absence of an alternative process presumption would be the criteria of the now defunct system will apply.
is that ould idiot still in politics and we wonder why the countrys still the way it is
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