€50 annual fee for medical card?

n97 mini

Being mooted.

Quite good value considering all the non-medical freebies you get for having one, many of which are actual cash (e.g. back to school grant).

If I had the option of paying €50 for one, or even €50 x 5 for everyone in my family I'd be filling in the application right now.

Al Capwned

Yeah, as an asthma sufferer who regularly visits the doc, i'd have no prob with a €50 annual charge.....

saa

This is only going to make the abuse of the medical card worse, from people getting the most of their 50 euro back, there should be pay back, an incentive for those who do not use the medical card.

GPs shouldn't get a flat fee for medical card patients, an elective appointment should be a small fee ad any refereed appointments can be covered.

I hope this doesnt evolve into a cheapo health insurance.

neonitrix

I would be concerned for all the people who are currently waiting on approval for a medical card, many like me (i sent in my application in early august and have gotten the run around since then about my application due to the movement of processing them to a central office).

The last update i received was the 29th September and nothing since and i have written numerous emails and rang a few times to find out how long i will have to wait until i hear if we are approved or not.

no i wonder is it all a delay tactic so that

1. they hope people will give up
2. they can approve people after a charge has been passed and they will have to pay it also.

Max Power1

If anyone complains over 50 euro charge then they are being unrealistic.
I am just over the threshold, it costs me 50euro every time I go to the doctor. 50euro per year is a good deal compared to that.

Michael..

neonitrix wrote: »

I would be concerned for all the people who are currently waiting on approval for a medical card, many like me (i sent in my application in early august and have gotten the run around since then about my application due to the movement of processing them to a central office).

The last update i received was the 29th September and nothing since and i have written numerous emails and rang a few times to find out how long i will have to wait until i hear if we are approved or not.

no i wonder is it all a delay tactic so that

1. they hope people will give up
2. they can approve people after a charge has been passed and they will have to pay it also.

I'm in the same boat. I applied online in September and I still haven't heard anything..

There was a bit on RTE news saying that the HSE were deliberately delaying applications...Not a penny left from this years budget I'd say..

flutered

it is quite cheap at 50 lids, plus they could up the cost of prescriptions as well, i mean 50 cent for an item, take the cancer jab a lot of people get every three months, this cost in the region of 800 euro.

Tora Bora

Meanwhile those of us forced to pay VHI, face annual increases of close to €200 ..................

super_furry

Can't understand the fuss over this. It's less than €1 a week for full medical coverage. I wish I could avail of that - I'd pay six or seven times that to gain the massive benefits that a medical card brings.

Blikes

I would be interested to see how the richest people in the country will be hit as this is obviously aimed at the poorest people in the country.

If the rich aren't hit with a similiar tax in respect of their income, this isn't going to down well.

KERSPLAT!

I'd be happy enough to pay €50 a year. I very rarely visit the doctor but like others have said, it's just €1 a week

super_furry

Blikes wrote: »

If the rich aren't hit with a similiar tax in respect of their income, this isn't going to down well.

Like the universal social charge? Like income tax? Like PRSI?

n97 mini

Blikes wrote: »

If the rich aren't hit with a similiar tax.

This isn't a tax. It's a small fee for having what a lot of people see as a golden card.

anymore

n97 mini wrote: »

Being mooted.

Quite good value considering all the non-medical freebies you get for having one, many of which are actual cash (e.g. back to school grant).

If I had the option of paying €50 for one, or even €50 x 5 for everyone in my family I'd be filling in the application right now.

Going to the doctor last week cost me € 55 and I know my income is less than many who have the medical card. I knew one guy who used to get perscriptions on his medical card and send to a family member who hadnt the card ! The same fellow turned down a job paying € 500 a week into his hand because he said he would only really be working for € 200 after all his benefits were gone.
So tough tittty for those who are moaning about this - I would love to get this deal.

Blikes

super_furry wrote: »

Like the universal social charge? Like income tax? Like PRSI?

These are charges everyone pays from the lowest paid worker to the 6 figure earners.

Another tax on the poorest people needs to be followed with a tax on the richest. I'm not trying to start a fight but i think most would agree that the lower and middle class people are paying for the recovery of this country while the richest get off unscathed mostly.

damoz

I pay 50 times €50 to cover health insurance for my family. So.. yes.. 50 euro is a snip !

anymore

Tora Bora wrote: »

Meanwhile those of us forced to pay VHI, face annual increases of close to €200 ..................

Worse still people paying insce are portrayed as ' depriving' those who dont pay insce :eek:

123balltv

anymore wrote: »

Going to the doctor last week cost me € 55 and I know my income is less than many who have the medical card. I knew one guy who used to get perscriptions on his medical card and send to a family member who hadnt the card ! The same fellow turned down a job paying € 500 a week into his hand because he said he would only really be working for € 200 after all his benefits were gone.
So tough tittty for those who are moaning about this - I would love to get this deal.

My Sisters friend does the very same thing except she actually charges her friends/family a few bob she sits in the doctors office pretending to be sick to get antibiotics etc
I'd be happy to see her get charged €50

n97 mini

Blikes wrote: »

Another tax on the poorest people needs to be followed with a tax on the richest.

How is this a tax? The medical card entitles the holder to free money, free drugs and free GP visits.

There is no such thing as free though. Someone is paying for it. So it's only fair the holder contributes.

anymore

123balltv wrote: »

My Sisters friend does the very same thing except she actually charges her friends/family a few bob she sits in the doctors office pretending to be sick to get antibiotics etc
I'd be happy to see her get charged €50

In the case I referred to it was anti depressants and i couldnt make him see that his relative should be seeing a doctor if hse needed these !

Blikes

n97 mini wrote: »

How is this a tax? The medical card entitles the holder to free money, free drugs and free GP visits.

There is no such thing as free though. Someone is paying for it. So it's only fair the holder contributes.

...and 99% of people with medical card really need them and are honest and good people who can't afford to visit the doctor.

If it was free before and now they're charging for it, it seems like being taxed to me.

anymore

Blikes wrote: »

...and 99% of people with medical card really need them and are honest and good people who can't afford to visit the doctor.

If it was free before and now they're charging for it, it seems like being taxed to me.

tell me how aperson who smokes 20 cigarettes a day cant afford the occasional vsit to the doctor ?

n97 mini

Blikes wrote: »

If it was free before and now they're charging for it, it seems like being taxed to me.

It wasn't free. Someone else paid for all of it.

Stephen P

Michael.. wrote: »

I'm in the same boat. I applied online in September and I still haven't heard anything..

There was a bit on RTE news saying that the HSE were deliberately delaying applications...Not a penny left from this years budget I'd say..

I applied in July on health grounds (have a long term illness that's not covered under the long term illness scheme :rolleyes:) I'm also under financial hardship, like most I suppose. Since September they've asked for additional items on a few occasions. They're definetly taking their time processing applications.
I would gladly pay €50 a year for a medical card though if it meant I was able to get my medication.

Blikes

anymore wrote: »

tell me how aperson who smokes 20 cigarettes a day cant afford the occasional vsit to the doctor ?

Go ask one, i'm merely putting my opinion in here! if you're pi$$ed off, write to the independent!

A society is measured by how it treats its weakest members

goat2

i dont know why people on medical cards would complain about just fifty euro once off payment, i was at chemist today for my months supply of medicine and it costs between sixty and seventy euro per month, i am unemployed also, i think that there were too many handouts in the past,

ianuss

I used to work in Medical Cards, in Dublin, and I can say from experience that I highly doubt there is a deliberate policy of delaying applications. Sadly, the backlog is enormous. The staff are looking after renewals as well as new applications and the workload is never ending. You would often be faced with a 3 month backlog. Added to that, the widespread drop in staff numbers means that any existing backlogs will continue to grow.

goat2

Blikes wrote: »

These are charges everyone pays from the lowest paid worker to the 6 figure earners.

Another tax on the poorest people needs to be followed with a tax on the richest. I'm not trying to start a fight but i think most would agree that the lower and middle class people are paying for the recovery of this country while the richest get off unscathed mostly.

obsession with the richest,
the richest dont have medical cards,
they help pay for the services of the medical card, and pay their own health insurance into it

Blikes

goat2 wrote: »

obsession with the richest,
the richest dont have medical cards,
they help pay for the services of the medical card, and pay their own health insurance into it

No obsession, merely observations.

I have no obsession with any class or people.

The richest don't need them obviously.
Everyone that pays tax pays for them, not just rich people.
Thinks the rich are the only ones that matter?

vicwatson

1.67 MILLION Medical cards in Ireland, JAYSUS. There's only 4 million of us, so every 1 in every 2.39 people have a medical card.

Holy crap. What the hell is going on eh? This farce HAS TO STOP. :mad::mad:

50 euro a year is a steal for a medical card, can I have one?

galway2007

n97 mini wrote: »

Being mooted.

Quite good value considering all the non-medical freebies you get for having one, many of which are actual cash (e.g. back to school grant).

If I had the option of paying €50 for one, or even €50 x 5 for everyone in my family I'd be filling in the application right now.

They got this wrong
They should just put a charge of say € 5 on every visit as that would put a stop to them going to the doctor when they sneeze

NewDirection

Does anyone have any figures as to how much this would raise for the government?

goat2

i would give 300 euro right now to have one, as i pay out about seven to eight hundred per year for my medicine and outside of that fee a doctors visit three times at fifty euro so i pay about nine hundred euro to stay afloat

Bannasidhe

n97 mini wrote: »

How is this a tax? The medical card entitles the holder to free money, free drugs and free GP visits.

There is no such thing as free though. Someone is paying for it. So it's only fair the holder contributes.

I have a medical card - no choice as due to the cutbacks my work contract was cancelled. I also have diabetes. When I was working I never availed of the LTI scheme - I paid for everything. I could afford it. Now I can't.

I have been waiting for 8 months now to see a diabetes specialist as my condition has changed drastically, my GP is trying to control these changes by tinkering with my medication ('try 4 of these, 1 of these, and an injection of that'. 'Hmmm...ok...make it 2 of these, stop those and try this and double the injection dose.' 'hmmmm...o-kay....lets try....').

I don't get free money or free drugs - I pay the prescription charge and my prescription can change 3 times a week. My GP visits may be free, but as I can no longer drive until I get the go ahead from the specialist for my insurance company - I do have to take 4 buses for each visit - up to 3 times a week at my GP's insistence. So my free healthcare costs me around 20 euro a week - out of net 188. It used to cost me 80 a week for health insurance - out of a net 650 p.w and I'd have seen the specialist at least 7 months ago! Somehow I just don't feel better off with all of this free stuff I am getting :rolleyes:.

Once again we are presented with example of a minority who abuse the system and this is extrapolated to include all those who have medical cards/ claim SW and is therefore used as justification to slash the incomes of those of us who have found ourselves at the mercy of the State through no fault of our own.

If I had to pay 50 euro a year plus increased prescription costs I would. If I don't I will die as I won't be able to get the medication that is keeping me alive. For many of us it really is that simple.

goat2

super_furry wrote: »

Can't understand the fuss over this. It's less than €1 a week for full medical coverage. I wish I could avail of that - I'd pay six or seven times that to gain the massive benefits that a medical card brings.

five euro every visit to doctor, and two euro for prescription would be a good alternative, for medical card holders.
and twenty euro doctors visit and 10 euro perscription for non medical card holders, it would make it a bit fairer

ianuss

galway2007 wrote: »

They got this wrong
They should just put a charge of say € 5 on every visit as that would put a stop to them going to the doctor when they sneeze

A Medical Card is a flat fee based card. It costs the state the same whether you go once or 20 times a year. To get value, everyone should be a hypochondriac tbh.

c montgomery

Blikes wrote: »

Go ask one, i'm merely putting my opinion in here! if you're pi$$ed off, write to the independent!

A society is measured by how it treats its weakest members

Trouble is in Ireland some of the weakest one's won't help themselves.

sarumite

Blikes wrote: »

A society is measured by how it treats its weakest members

I agree completetly. Offering the weakest members medical services at a tiny fraction of the true cost seems like a pretty good deal to me. Lets not forget, the medical card is not "free". It is paid for by the taxpayers, many of whom derive absolutely no benefit from it. I don't think asking those who do benefit from it to contribut less than €1 a week seems inappropriate in a time of austerity.

c montgomery

vicwatson wrote: »

1.67 MILLION Medical cards in Ireland, JAYSUS. There's only 4 million of us, so every 1 in every 2.39 people have a medical card.

Holy crap. What the hell is going on eh? This farce HAS TO STOP. :mad::mad:

50 euro a year is a steal for a medical card, can I have one?

That’s insane!
So only 2 million working in this country however there’s 1.67 million people on a medical card. Complete welfare state.

anymore

Blikes wrote: »

...and 99% of people with medical card really need them and are honest and good people who can't afford to visit the doctor.

If it was free before and now they're charging for it, it seems like being taxed to me.

My kid understands now that Santa doesnt actually provide the presents for him at Xmas and that it was his parents who were buying them all along. We never looked on this as some kind of Santa Tax we were paying !

Blikes

Let me just clear up i wasn't complaining about the fee, i'm saying that it need to be imposed in kind to those across the board, especially those who can afford it. I didn't word it well and probably didn't word this reply well either but it makes sense in my head!

I would have no problem paying 50 euro for a medical card if i had one, it will also reduce costs to the state in my opinion as people that don't really need one or those just under the cut off point in earnings may not apply for one with the fee, those who really need it and who use it such as the poster above with diabetes are the ones that would as the see the real benefit of having one!

Bannasidhe

goat2 wrote: »

five euro every visit to doctor, and two euro for prescription would be a good alternative, for medical card holders.
and twenty euro doctors visit and 10 euro perscription for non medical card holders, it would make it a bit fairer

So it would be fairer for me to pay 25 euro a week to the GP and around 10 for prescriptions out of an income of 188 a week (plus travel costs of around another tenner) because my mother chose to breed with a man with a dodgy genetic background and I was the lucky one of 3 offspring to inherit this particular genetic disposition and due to cutbacks my job ceased to exist? 45 euro out of a total of 188 every week just to stay alive?

Funny - I never had an issue paying the doctor for myself or my son (and on some occasions my grandchildren) or full price for my prescriptions during my 35 odd years of employment or in the 25 years of employment since I was first diagnosed as diabetic. See, I could afford it and others couldn't. I had a good job and a large disposable income. I thought that was fair enough :eek:.

Icepick

Good start but visit to GPs etc. need to be limited to stop abuse.
Also, NHS needs restructuring and useless admin and management staff needs to be fired.

ianuss

Icepick wrote: »

Good start but visit to GPs etc. need to be limited to stop abuse.
Also, NHS needs restructuring and useless admin and management staff needs to be fired.

What abuse is that?

Bannasidhe

Icepick wrote: »

Good start but visit to GPs etc. need to be limited to stop abuse.
Also, NHS needs restructuring and useless admin and management staff needs to be fired.

Oh how I wish we had an NHS to restructure! Sadly we are stuck with the HSE.

naughto

vicwatson wrote: »

1.67 MILLION Medical cards in Ireland, JAYSUS. There's only 4 million of us, so every 1 in every 2.39 people have a medical card.

Holy crap. What the hell is going on eh? This farce HAS TO STOP. :mad::mad:

50 euro a year is a steal for a medical card, can I have one?

where did u get this info or do u have link??

melekalikimaka

Blikes wrote: »

Let me just clear up i wasn't complaining about the fee, i'm saying that it need to be imposed in kind to those across the board, especially those who can afford it. I didn't word it well and probably didn't word this reply well either but it makes sense in my head!

they are trying to cut costs in SW and Health, taxing the 'rich' isn't going to reduce the bill. Its the most logical target, rather see this than a few hostipals close to lack of funds.

Your post seemed to have an air of 'rob from the rich and give to the poor', sadly thats not the way a country should run, the richest should not support the poorest, they should try support themselves, but with thte handout state we live in, thats not going to happen anytime soon

WalterMitty

Medical cards are supposed to be for most vulnerable. More than a third of population has them so obviously its not only the most vulnerable.
The politicians say "every cost cutting option is on the table " and " we must spread cuts fairly" but that is proven lies in this case as every over 70 gets this medical card depite very few of these people being in financial need of one but because they nearly ALL vote any cut to them is well and truly off the table!
Its fooking ridiculous that someone with no mortgage, a public sector or private pension or even one of the highest non contributory state pensions in Europe get these cards along with free medication,tv licence , electricity/gas/travel etc. That is a dream lifestyle for 90+% of worlds population who live on less than a few hundred dollars a month.
A lot of the over 70s i see nowadays are more active than the 30/40 year olds i see. Health and nutrition levels means people arent getting old and frail as young these days. Many people in jobs they love dont want to retire and are working at least part time into their 70s.
Time for the politicians to get real and means test over70s

c montgomery

naughto wrote: »

where did u get this info or do u have link??

There you go
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/budget/167m-medical-card-holders-canrsquot-afford-euro50-tax-ndash-patients-2943877.html

WalterMitty

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Oh how I wish we had an NHS to restructure! Sadly we are stuck with the HSE.

Yeah, they pay their medical staff a LOT less than HSE and have an overall excellent service relative to us with little delays for things like assesments for autistic children, treatment centres for CF etc etc. Pay staff way over the odds means less can be employed means patients will suffer.

Bannasidhe

melekalikimaka wrote: »

they are trying to cut costs in SW and Health, taxing the 'rich' isn't going to reduce the bill. Its the most logical target, rather see this than a few hostipals close to lack of funds.

Your post seemed to have an air of 'rob from the rich and give to the poor', sadly thats not the way a country should run, the richest should not support the poorest, they should try support themselves, but with thte handout state we live in, thats not going to happen anytime soon

I hate to point this out to you - but at the moment we are supporting the rich. We are paying to bail out banks while many of those who took the decisions to lend recklessly are still earning huge salaries. We are paying so our former governmental leaders and their top tier PS advisers can sit on their arses for the rest of their lives with big fat pensions. We are paying the debts accrued by the likes of Sean Quinn.
We are already robbing the poor and the middle to bail out the rich - bit of turn-a-bout would be fair play.