Budget cuts Medical Cards

Over 70s will now face a means test to continue to hold on to their medical cards, but the majority of this age group who qualify for medical cards on age rather than income grounds will lose full entitlement to free GP care and drug costs, as only those falling within the low income limit for full medical cards will hold to to their existing entitlement.

At present there are 140,000 people over 70 who have medical cards based on age grounds only. Following the changes announced in the Budget, it is estimated that only 14,000 of these will continue to have a full medical card, while 35,000 will be given a doctor visit only card, 70,000 will qualify for a new €400 yearly grant in lieu of their former medical card, while 20,000 will not qualify for any medical card or grant.