Know where you stand on Health

Medical Card You can get a medical card, which entitles you to all health services for free, if your income is less than:

	Under 66	66-69	70-79	80 years+
Single living alone	£100.00	£109.00	£180.00	£190.00
Single living with family	£89.00	£94.00	£156.00	£163.00
Married couple (or single parent with dependent children)	£144.50	£162.00	£270.00	£284.00

These income limits apply from 1st January, 2001. You are allowed to have the following amount over the above income and still qualify: £18.00 for each child under 16 years of age £19.00 for each dependent over 16 years of age The amount by which rent or mortgage exceeds £18.00 per week Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work in excess of £16 From July 2001, all persons aged 70 and over will qualify for a Medical Card, regardless of income. A person may qualify for the issue of a Medical Card under one of three eligibility criteria: Means Tested Eligibility European Union (EU) eligibility (see below) Retention of eligibility for the unemployed (see below) European Union Eligibility A Medical Card is issued under EU eligibility criteria to: A person, resident in this State, whose income is sourced solely from another EU Member State or from a Member State of the European Economic Area and whose income is subject to the Social Security arrangements of that State. A person from another EU Member State or from a Member State of the European Economic Area who holds either Form E106, E109 or E119 and is temporarily resident in this State. A person resident in this State who is in receipt of a Social Security Pension from another EU Member State, or from a Member State of the European Economic Area and who is not either in receipt of a social welfare payment from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, or regarded as liable for PRSI contributions in respect of employment or self employment in this State. Students and workers in Ireland who hold Form E128 from another EU Member State or from a Member State of the European Economic Area will have access free of charge to the Services which are available to medical card holders. A person aged 16-25 years (including a student) who is deemed to be financially dependent on his/her parents is entitled to a Medical Card if the parents have full eligibility assessed based on their own income. Retention of Eligibility for Medical Card A person or the spouse of a person who has been unemployed for a minimum of one year takes up employment. In this context, time spent on the Live Register, approved Schemes or Courses for the Long Term Unemployed is treated as an unemployed period. Eligibility (of the family) is retained for 3 years from the date of commencing employment. A person who has been in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs for a minimum period of one year takes up employment. Eligibility is retained for 3 years from the date of commencing employment. A person commences employment/self employment through the Back to Work Allowance Scheme. Eligibility is retained for 3 years from the commencement of the Back to Work Allowance or for 4 years from the commencement of the Back to Work Allowance Enterprise Scheme. A person enters approved employment through the Job Assist Scheme. Eligibility is retained for 3 years from the commencement of this employment. A person participates on any of the following schemes/courses for the Long Term Unemployed: Community Employment Scheme, Job Start and Job Initiative, Partnership and Community Group Initiative, Rate for the Job Scheme, Pilot Programme for employment of people with Disabilities, Vocational Opportunities Schemes (VTOS), Second Level Certificate Courses, Third Level Allowance (TLA), Part-time Education Scheme (STEP). Eligibility is retained for the duration of the course/scheme. A person who is unemployed for 12 months or more enters part-time paid insurable employment. Eligibility is retained for 3 years from the time his/her income increases to a level which exceeds the appropriate medical card guidelines. If the person subsequently enters full time employment their entitlement to retention of eligibility will be for 3 years less the period in respect of which they had retained the card while in part-time employment and their income has been in excess of the guidelines. General Entitlements Everyone is entitled to public in-patient and out-patient hospital services. However, if you see a consultant privately, you will have to pay privately for any test or care arising, unless you give notice that you wish to switch back to join the public waiting list for the treatment. Charges With the exception of Medical Card holders, children with long term ailments and women availing of maternity services, the following charges must be paid in public hospitals: Casualty - £26 unless referred by your doctor or admitted to hospital Public ward bed - £26 per night (up to a maximum of £260 in a year) Private Charges in Public Hospitals - Private (£156), Semi-private (£126), Day Care (£112) Nursing Home Subvention Nursing Home Subvention is payable by the Health Board of £90, £120 or £150 per week according to the level of dependency of the patient The subvention is means tested so the maximum contribution will be reduced by any net income of the applicant in excess of the relevant non-contributory old age pension (plus an allowance of 20% of the relevant old age pension) and after all statutory deductions which the applicant may be entitled to, have been allowed. A married couple is assessed with half of their joint incomes. Income in all cases may include assets such as property, land, savings, investments, etc. The value of any income/savings of the applicant in excess of £6,000 may be taken into account and spread over 52 weeks to determine means. Midland Health Board Tel: 044-40221. Carers Allowance A person who is living with, (or close to with direct communication system), and giving full-time care to a child on Domiciliary Care Allowance, or any person aged 16 to 65 requiring full-time care can apply for a means-tested weekly Carers Allowance of £88.50 (£98.50 if carer is 66 or over) plus an annual £400 towards respite care. The carer is assessed with weekly income in excess of £125 (single) or with half of their own and their spouse's income in excess of £250 (married) April 2001. Their allowance is reduced accordingly disregarding the first £6.00. An additional 50% allowance will be paid to a person caring for more than one incapacitated person. Carers are entitled to free travel in their own right and to free telephone rental, free TV licence and free electricity. A carer can take up training or paid employment for up to 10 hours per week. Carers are entitled to credited contributions to keep you in benefit. Drugs Refund A family can get a refund on the cost of prescribed drugs used in any month in excess of £42 provided the drug is on the government list. Return to Help Centre

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