Republican News · Thursday 21 February 2002

Medical Card system is a poverty trap

Sinn Féin election candidate for Sligo/Leitrim, Councillor Seán MacManus, has described the new Medical Card income guidelines for the North Western Health Board as "an insult - a clear reason why two-tier health care must end, and free access to health care for all must be introduced as a matter of priority by the next government". MacManus condemned the current system as "nothing but a poverty trap.

"A single person under age 66 is now allowed to earn a little less than £4/Û5.08 per week more than last year and still qualify for a Medical Card," he explained. "A married couple can now earn just over £5.50/Û6.98 per week more and still qualify. Income Guideline increases for those aged 66 to 70 are not much better. The exemption for children under 16 has increased by a measly 90p/Û1.14.

"What bothers me about the current system is that by keeping income exemption rates so low it effectively discourages people from bettering themselves financially. It's unfair that if a person makes a small amount of extra income, their Medical Card is withdrawn and they are faced with a whopping health insurance bill, or doctor bills they can't pay."

"Constituents tell me that one of three things happen in such cases. Either you don't go to the doctor unless or until it's an emergency, because you can't afford to, or you buy the private insurance you can't afford and take that money out of spending on other essentials, like food. Or you decide that you just can't afford to lose access to health care for yourself or your children, and so sacrifice the extra hours, or better job - because ironically it will cost you more than you will gain. This creates a poverty trap. People who are already struggling don't deserve to be penalised in this way.

"We know that under the present system people who need medical care are not getting it because they can't afford it. These miserable increases won't change that. Health care professionals are frustrated by this. Community workers are frustrated. I share these concerns. How can we as a society afford the 'Bertie Bowl' and not afford to ensure that every individual can go to the doctor when they're sick? We need to send a message to the current government in the upcoming general election that this is not acceptable. I know we can do better than the present system, which the current government has committed to preserve.

"These increases do not change the two-tier system. Sinn Féin would scrap the current system and introduce free health care for all. As a minimal, transitional measure toward full equality in health, we call for the immediate extension of Medical Card eligibility to all people under the age of 18 and over the age of 65, and to all those earning the minimum wage or less.

"Sinn Féin is committed to building an Ireland of equals, where all people have equal access to medical care based on need alone. We will persist until this has been achieved."