Medical card red tape sees many give up

SERIOUSLY ILL MUST JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO GET CARD SAYS HEALY-RAE

INDEPENDENT TD Michael Healy Rae has slammed the medical card application system which he says is so frustrating that many applicants just give up without ever getting the card they’re entitled to.

Deputy Healy Rae made the comments after he learned that nationally 24,000 fewer medical cards have been issued to date this year when compared with the same period in 2015.

“It is not surprising that the figure for cards granted is lower this year than last year as people are being put through so many hoops when applying that they sometimes just give up. I have raised this issue on numerous occasions in the Dáil with the Minister. It is an outrageous situation that someone who is suffering from Cancer be refused a medical card,” he said.

“Sadly I have calls to my office everyday from people suffering from cancer being refused a medical card after submitting a letter from their oncology consultant outlining their illness and this to me is disgraceful and needs to be addressed,” he said.

When a person is over the income limit they can still be provided with a discretionary medical card if they can provide medical evidence to support their application.

According to the figures obtained by Deputy Healy Rae from the Department of Health 4,321 such discretionary cards have been granted in Kerry so far this year.

While this is an increase of 581 on last year Deputy Healy Rae said he believes many more people with serious medical conditions are entitled to them.

“Sadly I’m sure more people deserve them but have been refused,” he said.