Elderly hit hard by means test for medical card

ABOUT 20,000 people over the age of 70 will neither qualify for a medical card nor a new €400 grant as the cash-strapped Government seeks to claw back €100 million from the elderly.

Health Minister Mary Harney said she faced a stark choice — either offer the card to a growing number of people over 70, regardless of means, or take away homecare packages from those who really needed them.

“The Government have taken the view that the fair approach is to provide a range of means-tested supports for people in this age group.”