Medical cards.

me4many

I am thinking of applying for a medical card .
My wife aged 68 has the state pension of about e 220.00 p/w ( which may be increased to 240 later this year.
I am 65 and am getting a small pension of e 120.00 p/w. We have 30 k savings. We have our mortgage paid off...No dependents...
Q : What would be my / our chances of getting a card.. I don't really want to go through the whole application process if there is no chance..
We have a regular monthly chemist expense of about e 120.
Any ideas
Thanks

wifey28

i think because of your age your atomatically entitled to one?
either way you shoulld beok mean test wise, you can check on the website if your entitled to instantly

looksee

If one of you is aged 70 you will both automatically get a medical card.

splinter65

me4many wrote: »

I am thinking of applying for a medical card .
My wife aged 68 has the state pension of about e 220.00 p/w ( which may be increased to 240 later this year.
I am 65 and am getting a small pension of e 120.00 p/w. We have 30 k savings. We have our mortgage paid off...No dependents...
Q : What would be my / our chances of getting a card.. I don't really want to go through the whole application process if there is no chance..
We have a regular monthly chemist expense of about e 120.
Any ideas
Thanks

I would advise you to go to your local CIC and take evidence of all your income and ask them to review your possible entitlements, sw and medical card.

splinter65

looksee wrote: »

If one of you is aged 70 you will both automatically get a medical card.

Medical card for the over 70s is means tested now but the means test is very generous. A couple over 70 (only one need be over 70) have €72000 savings and €900 income weekly disregarded.

splinter65

wifey28 wrote: »

i think because of your age your atomatically entitled to one?
either way you shoulld beok mean test wise, you can check on the website if your entitled to instantly

No it is means tested but people whose sole income is sw are entitled.

Info here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/medical_cards_and_gp_visit_cards/medical_card_means_test_under_70s.html

With one of you aged 68 and the other 65 you will both, as the link states, be treated as aged 68. You are a bit over the income limit - be sure to include evidence of your regular monthly medical costs. Every chance you will qualify for full medical card (but will at the least qualify for GP Card until one of you reaches 70 and then get the full card). Your savings are not an issue as you are allowed to have €72k as a couple before it is means tested. Well worth, as another poster suggested, going to Citizens Information for advice on your pensions etc. Sometimes it can be more beneficial to claim Non-Contributory than Contributory. Also, if not in receipt of it, check out about Fuel Allowance.

me4many

Balagan1 wrote: »

Info here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/medical_cards_and_gp_visit_cards/medical_card_means_test_under_70s.html

With one of you aged 68 and the other 65 you will both, as the link states, be treated as aged 68. You are a bit over the income limit - be sure to include evidence of your regular monthly medical costs. Every chance you will qualify for full medical card (but will at the least qualify for GP Card until one of you reaches 70 and then get the full card). Your savings are not an issue as you are allowed to have €72k as a couple before it is means tested. Well worth, as another poster suggested, going to Citizens Information for advice on your pensions etc. Sometimes it can be more beneficial to claim Non-Contributory than Contributory. Also, if not in receipt of it, check out about Fuel Allowance.

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply.
I will talk to citizens info as advised above and take it from there.....fingers crossed.
Thanks

dartboardio

Hi,

I wouldn't talk to citizens advice as they can give incorrect info.
Call the medical card unit on 1890252919

Cut off for a married couple under 70 is about 250/300 a week
but provide a medical report from your GP if you want to apply also on medical grounds.

splinter65

dartboardio wrote: »

Hi,

I wouldn't talk to citizens advice as they can give incorrect info.
Call the medical card unit on 1890252919

Cut off for a married couple under 70 is about 250/300 a week
but provide a medical report from your GP if you want to apply also on medical grounds.

That’s not true.
It’s not as simple as a cut off amount.
There’s allowances made for children.
The medical card means test allows for rent/mortgage payments traveling to work costs childcare costs as well.
It’s not just a question of a cut off.
Be careful about giving misinformation.

dartboardio

splinter65 wrote: »

That’s not true.
It’s not as simple as a cut off amount.
There’s allowances made for children.
The medical card means test allows for rent/mortgage payments traveling to work costs childcare costs as well.
It’s not just a question of a cut off.
Be careful about giving misinformation.

Sorry?

For a couple aged 60 or 65 yes there is an allowance or cut off point. If they dont have dependent children and presumably no rent or mortgage or house insurance like most that age then it is very black and white.

You're not reading the question properly its different for a couple in their 40s with dependant children theres no specific number but its pretty self explanatory for a couple in their 60s with no dependants or allowable outgoings.

Have a read of the assessment guidelines and youll see what I mean.

A couple in their 60s will not have travel to work or childcare or mortgage 90 percent of the time.

Please ensure to read the actual question going forward

splinter65

dartboardio wrote: »

Sorry?

For a couple aged 60 or 65 yes there is an allowance or cut off point. If they dont have dependent children and presumably no rent or mortgage or house insurance like most that age then it is very black and white.

You're not reading the question properly its different for a couple in their 40s with dependant children theres no specific number but its pretty self explanatory for a couple in their 60s with no dependants or allowable outgoings.

Have a read of the assessment guidelines and youll see what I mean.

A couple in their 60s will not have travel to work or childcare or mortgage 90 percent of the time.

Please ensure to read the actual question going forward

Yes there’s a cut off point but there are allowances. There also the capacity for someone outside the means to be allowed a medical card for medical reasons. It’s not a given that people in their 60s wouldn’t have rent or mortgage or house insurance Your making swinging statements and generalizations That are unhelpful .

dartboardio

splinter65 wrote: »

Yes there’s a cut off point but there are allowances. There also the capacity for someone outside the means to be allowed a medical card for medical reasons. It’s not a given that people in their 60s wouldn’t have rent or mortgage or house insurance Your making swinging statements and generalizations That are unhelpful .

There are allowances for children and allowable outgoings yes. Which a high percentage of 65 year olds dont have due to mortgage being paid off and kids fleeing the nest. Its not an assumption its a fact.

Someone been given the card due to medical reasons yes discretionary which is nothing to do with the allowances you are mentioning. Its seperate to the financial assessment.

Fann Linn

If applying for a medical card and you use a car for commuting to work in which you are not the owner, but just a named driver, will that do in making the application if proof such as insurance documentation is shown?

Thanks.

Plugguy

dartboardio wrote: »

Sorry?

For a couple aged 60 or 65 yes there is an allowance or cut off point. If they dont have dependent children and presumably no rent or mortgage or house insurance like most that age then it is very black and white.

You're not reading the question properly its different for a couple in their 40s with dependant children theres no specific number but its pretty self explanatory for a couple in their 60s with no dependants or allowable outgoings.

Have a read of the assessment guidelines and youll see what I mean.

A couple in their 60s will not have travel to work or childcare or mortgage 90 percent of the time.

Please ensure to read the actual question going forward

Do most people aged 60 or 65 not have house insurance?....Why not?

dartboardio

Plugguy wrote: »

Do most people aged 60 or 65 not have house insurance?....Why not?

Sorry meant to say most 60/65 and above year olds do have house insurance, but no mortgage etc