Hi, re: longterm illness.
I have Diabetes 2 and Perianal Crohns. Both are incurable and longterm.
Whilst I get my Diabetes medication free, I pay €120.00/mth for my Crohns medication. Is this correct ?
Have you applied for a Full Medical Card?
Even if you are above the income threshold, there are circumstances which will be taken into account, which usually include incurable long-term illnesses.
See this:
There are three (3) main categories of people entitled to a Medical Card:
1. Applicants (and their dependants) whose assessable income comes within the
relevant Income Guidelines set out in Appendix II.
2. Applicants (and their dependants) whose assessable income is in excess of the
Income Guidelines but where the HSE considers that to refuse a Medical Card
would cause undue hardship.( See Section 3.10).
Above is from This Document
You should get a letter from your GP, and/or Consultant, also a letter to HSE from your Community/Public Health Nurse, and include this with your Application.
Also, ensure you include on a separate statement, a full breakdown of your weekly/monthly expenses, and include everything, mortgage/rent, travelling to work, doctors expenses, the €120p/mth drugs expenditure, etc, etc.
And if you are turned down, there is an appeals mechanism.
Appeals
If you have been refused a medical card and are not satisfied with the decision, you may have it reviewed at your Local Health Office. Your circumstances may have changed or you may have left out some relevant information from the original application. If following this you are still not satisfied you may make an appeal to the Appeals Office of your HSE Area. The contact details will also be contained in your letter of refusal. The Appeals Office will conduct a reassessment of your application. This will be conducted by HSE staff not involved in deciding on your original application.
Use it if necessary.
More info
here
Also, when you apply, you can check your application status on-line
here
You will need either your Name, your PPS number or a Reference number which you may or may not have.
You can submit a query on the above site.
Hope this is of help to you.
All the best,
I'm Desperate Dan