Calls to reverse medical card removal

SENIOR citizens last night called again on the Government to reverse its decision to remove the medical card from about 20,000 older people.

“The only card older people want for Christmas is the medical card,” said Máiréad Hayes, head of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament.

The Government announced in the October budget that it was removing the automatic entitlement to medical cards for the over-70s.

Under that plan, about 30% of those over 70 were set to lose their cards.

But after a massive public outcry, including protests outside the Dáil, the Government widened the eligibility thresholds so that just 5% would lose their cards.

That still means approximately 20,000 people will lose their cards, however.

The Government published the legislation yesterday that will remove the automatic entitlement. It is expected to be passed into law by Christmas, although the 20,000 affected by the move have been told they will be able to continue using their cards until March 2.

The Senior Citizens Parliament said it was still not too late to withdraw the legislation.

“On behalf of our 120,000 members, we are calling on all Oireachtas and Seanad members to pledge to older people that they will vote against this measure,” Ms Hayes said.

Labour said yesterday it made little sense to remove the automatic entitlement.

“Medical research has shown significant improvement in health levels among those over 70 since universal access was introduced in 2001,” said Labour health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan.

“In addition, the savings that will be made — about €16 million in GP fees — is relatively small in terms of the overall health budget.

“It seems that the Government is prepared to jeopardise the health of 20,000 elderly people — and possibly more — for savings of just €16m, and this is before any account is taken of the cost of administering a complicated means-testing system.”