In the wake of the huge public outcry which followed the government's highly unpopular decision to abolish the automatic right to medical cards for the over 70s in last week's budget, the government this week announced a number of significant changes to the controversial plan.
In a government statement issued on Tuesday, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced an increase in the thresholds for over 70s medical cards. Those who already have medical cards will now, not have to undergo a means test, while a means test for new applicants will be introduced from January 1st 2009. Furthermore, those who are over the new threshold, and already hold a medical card, will be asked to notify the HSE about their circumstances.
The new income threshold for those over 70 will be €700 per week or €36,500 per annum for a single person and €1,400 or €73,000 per annum for a couple. The government maintains that the new limits will allow 95 per cent of those who already have a card to keep it. In addition, the government has agreed to change Section 4 of the Competition Act to allow the Irish Medical Organisation negotiate on fees for GPs as part of the deal to try to resolve the issue.
Local Labour Cllr Michael O'Brien welcomed the government statement but expressed his reservation about the government's unprecedented climbdown on a budgetary issue.
Cllr O'Brien added; “it would have been more honest if the government had announced its intention to simply decide to scrap its original proposal and had stuck with the principle of universal access to medical cards for all those over 70.”
“Thankfully we now have clarity for the thousands of elderly people in this country who have a medical card,” said Green Party TD and Deputy leader Mary White who also welcomed the fact that those entitled to a card will not be means tested again in order to establish entitlement. “In addition, there is flexibility in the new scheme in the fact that those above the threshold can apply for a medical card if they experience difficulty in meeting their needs,” she added.
The government’s revision of the medical card plan for the over 70s came following a week which saw the coalition government come under severe pressure by many factions of the community, including members of their own parliamentary party and opposition parties to reconsider last week's budget measure or scrap it altogether.
“The great majority of our over 70s must keep their medical cards, because they deserve them and they need them,” stated Minister of State John McGuinness.
"I received many phone calls, emails and visits to my clinic from people who were worried and afraid, and many of them I know personally. I conveyed their message to senior government as strongly as I could and now I'm glad it's over and the concerns of our elderly were heard," he added.
Local Fianna Fáil Councillors Joe Reidy, Andrew McGuinness and Pat Fitzpatrick also condemned the initial decision and wrote to the Taoiseach demanding that the government reverse their decision which they said “would inflict hardship on senior citizens.”
Meanwhile Deputy Mary White was criticised for what Labour Cllr Sean O’hÁrgain described as her “utter hypocrisy” regarding the matter. He said Mary White’s sudden coversion to the injustice caused by the removal of medical cards for the over 70s was in total contrast to her defence of the budget last week.
“Now like St Paul on the road to Damascus and I suspect having been deluged by the same irate and upsest elderly people and their families who have been contacting all of us in recent days, she suddenly has seen the impact of this mean-spirited and nasty snatch-back measure,” said Cllr O’hÁrgain.
