Over 3,000 Mayo medical card rejections revealed by HSE

Exactly 2,984 Mayo people have been unsuccessful in their applications for medical cards over the past two years.

A further 188 have been rejected so far this year, bringing the total to 3,172.

The data was provided at today's meeting of the HSE West Forum on foot of a question tabled by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne on 'the revoking of cards'.

A spokesperson outlined: "The medical card scheme is based, in the first instance, on a financial assessment of the applicant’s or applicants’ weekly income and means.

"The scheme is administered under the National Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines.

"In the event that an applicant’s means are above the financial threshold for the granting of medical card eligibility, other factors outlined in the application in relation to the burden of illness are taken into consideration and eligibility may be granted where it is deemed appropriate to exercise discretion because of the undue burden on the applicant and/or any dependants.

"Please note medical card eligibility is not revoked.

"However, a medical card may expire for a number of reasons, including the following.

"Failure by the applicant to submit a medical card review application within the specified timeframe.

"The applicant’s income may now exceed the eligibility threshold, meaning they no longer qualify.

"The applicant may not have responded to a confirmation of residence request, resulting in eligibility being suspended until such time as residence is proven.

"The applicant may have been removed from a GP panel and did not return a completed change of doctor form, resulting in eligibility being suspended until such time as the form is returned or three GP refusals are provided."