Cowen's persistence on plan 'disturbing'

AGE ACTION:AGE ACTION, the advocacy group for older people, has said it is "disturbed" that Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to persist with plans to abolish medical cards for everyone over 70 years despite growing public disquiet.

Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said despite the "deafening public outcry" Mr Cowen had indicated the Government would continue with revised reforms that would deny access to the health service for many older people.

"The Taoiseach is continuing to focus his attention on changing the income thresholds for the proposals, and he is still insisting that the scheme will be means tested."

Any review of the universal entitlement to a medical card for over-70s should examine the cost- saving benefits of the scheme to date for the wider health service.

He said the scheme had proven valuable in keeping many older people out of acute hospitals through provision of care in their communities. It had resulted in the faster discharge from hospital of many older people.

There were also obvious long-term savings from a preventative healthcare perspective.

Mr Timmins said since the introduction of the over-70s medical card in 2001 the number of people in that age bracket with a disability had fallen from 42 per cent to 38 per cent.

The Government's estimate that €100 million would be saved under its current proposals need to factor in the cost-saving impact of falling disability levels.

Age Action is holding a public meeting at 11am tomorrow at the Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2.

Friends of the Elderly said older people were "badly scared" by the recent turmoil in the banking system and were now "frightened" by developments on the medical cards issue. They needed reassurance from the Taoiseach in relation to their savings and health care.