Help with medical costs ‘no longer affordable’

FREE hearing aids, dental and eye treatment are among some of the benefits that would be removed under the proposals in this week’s Bord Snip Nua report.

The discontinuation of the Treatment Benefit Scheme – assistance in meeting medical costs for those who have made PRSI contributions – cost the state €92 million this year and are “no longer affordable” according to the report.

Electricity and telephone allowances to the elderly would also be cut under the proposed changes to the Household Benefits Package which also provides a free TV license to older people.

The package is available to everyone over 70 regardless of their income or household composition and also to carers and people with disabilities.

The report recommends these allowances should be taxed, saving the State almost €12m per year.

It said: “Expenditure on the package has increased by almost 24% from 2007 to 2009 alone and will cost €36m in 2009.

“There are likely to be further long-term increases in expenditure as the cohort of pensioners increase over time.”

Pensioners will also lose their entitlement to free passports.

Dentists said they are concerned about the general oral health of the nation by the removal of the Treatment Benefits Scheme and what they said was the proposal to “effectively dismantle the medical card scheme”.

The Irish Dental Association said in a statement: “The consequence in terms of discouraging dental visits may well lead to higher costs for the state dental services at the end of the day and would certainly impact negatively on oral health in general.

“Patients will also be dismayed at any attempt to remove benefits which they have already financed through their PRSI contributions.”