Poor seeking medical costs help

POOR people experiencing difficulties in getting or retaining medical cards are turning to charities to help them pay their medical costs, a new report reveals.

Comhairle, a statutory agency that helps people access entitlements, said poor households are increasingly turning to organisations such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, seeking assistance.

The agency warned people are experiencing hardship because medical card income guidelines have not kept pace with social welfare increases.

Comhairle chief executive Leonie Lunny said the medical card was of particular importance to families with young children and to people with disabilities.

“Families and individuals on low incomes, including people whose only income is a social welfare payment, may now have difficulty getting or keeping a medical card. It is important, therefore, that the income guidelines be increased as soon as possible,” she said.

The Comhairle report, The Medical Card: Affording Health on a Low Income, based on feedback from citizen information services, found more than half of the 34,500 queries made to services last year related to medical cards.

The medical card limit for a single person living with his or her family is €127, but this is less than the dole and supplementary welfare allowance at €134.80.

A couple, each of whom are receiving disability allowance receive €269.60, but the income limit for a married couple is €206.50.

A couple with two children, whose only income is a social welfare payment, just qualify for a medical card. They receive €257.80 and the income guideline for them is €258.50.

From January 2005, it is possible they will be over the income guidelines.

The personal rate of the old age contributory pension is €167.30, which is higher than the medical card income limit for the 66-70 age group at €156.

The report calls for an objective assessment of income to be carried out by either the Department of Health or the Health Services Executive.