Mixed reaction to plans for ‘doctor visit’ medical card
The new card will allow people whose income is 25% above the qualifying limit for a medical card to visit their family doctor free of charge. It will also give them access through their GP to a range of medical services in a public hospital at no extra cost. The Government claims this will result in an extra 200,000 people becoming eligible for free doctor visits.
Outlining the measures yesterday, Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney said the move was designed to rid parents on low incomes of the worry of not being able to afford to bring their child to the doctor. “The Government believes people should not be discouraged from visiting their GP, or especially from bringing their children to the GP, because of cost.”
President of the Irish Medical Organisation Dr James Reilly said they welcomed the new medical card. “It shows a new sensitivity to those on the margins. However, we would still be concerned people may not be able to afford the medication prescribed to them by their GP.”
A €7 increase in the Drug Payments Scheme (DPS) means patients who rely on a monthly drug supply will have to spend €85 per month rather than €78 to qualify for Government assistance. This year’s hike follows a €5 rise last year.Dr Reilly said the new medical card, and the extension of the traditional medical card to an additional 30,000 people, had not involved a renegotiation of the GP contract. He said GPs were happy to treat extra patients, but the IMO did have a concern about the manpower it would require.
Patient advocates, the Irish Patient’s Association, said they too welcomed the extension of the medical card scheme, but again they warned patients may not be able to afford the cost of prescription drugs.
Labour Health spokesperson Liz McManus said the extension of the medical card scheme would create a three-tier health service - those with no medical card, those with free GP and medical care, and those with free GP care only.
“The so-called ‘doctor visit’ cards will have limited benefit. We need to know if these changes have been negotiated with GPs and whether legislation will be required as we don’t want a repeat of the fiasco of extending the GMS to the over-70s.”
There was good news for parents of children with long-term illnesses. They will not have to apply annually to renew their medical card.
Weekly Income Limits for Medical Card Eligibility:
2004: from €142.50 for single person to €264.56 for married couple with two children.
2005: from €153.20 for singles to €284.40 for married couple with two children.
Limits for eligibility for new doctors visit card (25% over threshold for medical card): from €191.50 for singles to €355.50 for marrieds with two children.
