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Medical Card suddenly expired

  • 07-02-2019 10:32AM
    #1
    Slime Princess
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 114 ✭✭


    Just wanted to know if anyone had a similar experience with something like this and if it was sorted?

    Our medical cards were renewed in October 18 for a number of years. However mine, and no one else in my family, has been marked as expired since 31st Jan. I didn't receive any notice of this and was only told because I had to see my doctor on Feb 1st!

    The card I received in October has the original date on it.

    I've rung them but have been told I need to wait till at least the end of the week before I *might* get an answer to the query that was raised. There's been absolutely no change in circumstances in the household. And literally heard nothing from them, and they verify that no correspondence was sent on their end. It's just been marked as expired!

    We are a low income household and I have a disability and medical conditions that are difficult and expensive to manage and treat; and without the help the medical card provides are beyond what we able to afford (I will be going without essentially).

    I'm at a total loss on what to do. Can anyone provide any guidance?


Comments

  • #2
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    When you rang medical cards did they confirm that you don’t have a valid medical card right now?


  • #3
    Slime Princess
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 114 ✭✭Slime Princess


    splinter65 wrote: »
    When you rang medical cards did they confirm that you don’t have a valid medical card right now?

    Yes confirmed no valid card. They said it was expired, and they couldn't see why. And no correspondence on their end had been issued.


  • #4
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    Slime Princess wrote: »
    Yes confirmed no valid card. They said it was expired, and they couldn't see why. And no correspondence on their end had been issued.

    Very poor. They didn’t advise you to submit another application? I know it’s a nuisance but that’s my advice. You’re going to hear nothing and when you ring next Friday someone else there will advise you to submit another application so you may as well do it now.
    Not fit for purpose at the moment.


  • #5
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭ShaShaBear


    They have done exactly the same thing to us a total of three times. After a lot of digging and raising questions, they told us that some people's cards are randomly revoked as some sort of spot-check. People who have been honest about their need of a medical card will fight to get it back. Like you, we received no correspondence and in one of the three instances, our cards were 10 months off the expiry date! Got a bit of a shock after we got to the chemist to find out none of the household medication was covered, including for our young daughter who has asthma and a metabolic disease.

    You need to keep on them, it's the only thing that worked for us. I called them daily!


  • #6
    Cartroubles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 61 ✭✭Cartroubles


    Happened to me, no warning. After ringing they said I was selected for a random review of eligibility and I have to reapply. I had to ask them to send the forms, they never even let me know this was happening. Why not conduct the review when the card actually expires? I had 10 months left also.


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  • #7
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭ShaShaBear


    Cartroubles wrote: »
    Happened to me, no warning. After ringing they said I was selected for a random review of eligibility and I have to reapply. I had to ask them to send the forms, they never even let me know this was happening. Why not conduct the review when the card actually expires? I had 10 months left also.

    We sent the application in by registered post (so we'd have proof they got it) and rang every day looking for an update the day after they got it. I explained that three of the four of our family were on daily medication and they issued us with a temporary medical card that expired a month after we got it. It covered us until the application was approved.

    I agree with spot checks, but contacting people and simply asking them to resubmit documents would be far more fair than lumping people in the lurch!


  • #8
    Simple_Simone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 152 ✭✭Simple_Simone


    I don't know whether it will make any difference, but would you (and anyone else affected by such arbitrary actions by some HSE donkey) consider sending Susie a call or an email?

    These are her contact details:- https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/qavd/complaints/officers/pccc/medicalcards.html

    After all, if enough people complain, then maybe the HSE would start treating its customers as customers rather than as chancers.

    And complain here too: https://www2.hse.ie/services/forms/your-service-your-say/


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