Govt to publish legislation on over-70s medical cards

The Government is to publish new legislation today abolishing the automatic medical-card entitlement for people over the age of 70.

The controversial measure, announced in October's budget, sparked a massive protest by pensioners.

The Government responded by significantly raising the income thresholds after which over-70s will lose their entitlement to a medical card.

The new Health Bill would require all future applicants for over-70s to under a means test to ensure their income is within these thresholds.