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11/07/2013
Cancer Patients No Longer Guaranteed Medical Card
People on low incomes diagnosed with cancer will no longer receive a special medical card unless their condition is terminal.
Special medical cards are given to people over the "normal financial eligibility limit" but face high medical bills following an illness diagnosis.
Applications for, and renewals of, the medical cards will now face new scrutiny and national eligibility criteria, Health Minister James Reilly has said.
It is understood that doctors unrelated to a patient will now decide if a person
qualifies for a medical card.
Mr Reilly is quoted as saying: "In some cases this was because the person had cancer. In the past cancer struck terror into the heart of people and the prognosis was very poor.
"It is now a very different condition and ranges from being a desperate diagnosis to not such a bad diagnosis at all."
(MH/JP)
Special medical cards are given to people over the "normal financial eligibility limit" but face high medical bills following an illness diagnosis.
Applications for, and renewals of, the medical cards will now face new scrutiny and national eligibility criteria, Health Minister James Reilly has said.
It is understood that doctors unrelated to a patient will now decide if a person
qualifies for a medical card.
Mr Reilly is quoted as saying: "In some cases this was because the person had cancer. In the past cancer struck terror into the heart of people and the prognosis was very poor.
"It is now a very different condition and ranges from being a desperate diagnosis to not such a bad diagnosis at all."
(MH/JP)
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20 October 2015
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The government has been accused of continuing to betray medical card holders in the wake of the Budget 2016 announcements. Fianna Fáil general election candidate for Kildare North, Frank O'Rourke, said that the government has overseen a five-hold increase in prescription charges despite promising to abolish them altogether four years ago.
Govt Accused Of Continuing To Betray Medical Card Holders - FF
The government has been accused of continuing to betray medical card holders in the wake of the Budget 2016 announcements. Fianna Fáil general election candidate for Kildare North, Frank O'Rourke, said that the government has overseen a five-hold increase in prescription charges despite promising to abolish them altogether four years ago.
26 November 2014
HSE Produce 10 Step Plan For Medical Card Scheme
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has announced a ten step plan to improve the operation of the medical card scheme, in an effort to make it "more sensitive" to people's needs.
HSE Produce 10 Step Plan For Medical Card Scheme
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30 October 2008
No Medical Coverage For Quarter Of Irish Adults
More than 25% of Irish adults do not have a medical card, or private health insurance, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office have revealed. According to the CSO, only 44% of those who responded to the latest Quarterly National Household Survey, said that they had private insurance, while 24% said they had a medical card.
No Medical Coverage For Quarter Of Irish Adults
More than 25% of Irish adults do not have a medical card, or private health insurance, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office have revealed. According to the CSO, only 44% of those who responded to the latest Quarterly National Household Survey, said that they had private insurance, while 24% said they had a medical card.
01 July 2015
Children Under 18 Diagnosed With Cancer To Receive Medical Card
Children under 18 diagnosed with cancer will receive a medical card for five years, the Minister for Health has confirmed. It will also be retrospective so that any child who has had a cancer diagnosis in the past five years will also be entitled to a medical card. Fine Gael TD for Meath West, Ray Butler, welcomed the news.
Children Under 18 Diagnosed With Cancer To Receive Medical Card
Children under 18 diagnosed with cancer will receive a medical card for five years, the Minister for Health has confirmed. It will also be retrospective so that any child who has had a cancer diagnosis in the past five years will also be entitled to a medical card. Fine Gael TD for Meath West, Ray Butler, welcomed the news.
30 May 2014
Govt To Develop Policy Framework For Medical Card Eligibility
The HSE welcomes the Government decision taken today to develop the policy framework for medical card eligibility to take account of medical conditions.
Govt To Develop Policy Framework For Medical Card Eligibility
The HSE welcomes the Government decision taken today to develop the policy framework for medical card eligibility to take account of medical conditions.
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