Reilly eyes ‘third-tier’ medical card option

Health Minister James Reilly is to review restrictions on the issuing of discretionary medical cards following warnings from Fine Gael backbenchers that the controversy was becoming unmanageable on the doorsteps.

Dr Reilly said he was considering introducing a ‘third- tier’ medical card to add to the full medical card and GP visit cards already available to people on low and very low incomes.

He did not elaborate on what services it would provide or who it would serve, stressing he had meetings with the HSE and with the Cabinet’s health subcommittee next week “to iron out any problems”.