Duh
Once again, our gubmint has managed to screw everything up.
They are trying to play up their grand scheme of giving free medical treatment to all under fives, and are trying to play down the loss of the old-age telephone allowance and the clampdown on Medical Card holders.
Fucking idiots.
First of all, why are they giving free medical care to all under fives? A massive waste of money if ever I saw it. Give free treatment to all under fives, where the parents are under a certain income, but why the fuck are they giving it to people who can well afford it? And while they were at it they could apply the same to the Children's Allowance?
Now I always understood that the Medical Card Scheme was a reasonable one. A card is issued to anyone under a certain income level and that entitles them to nearly free medical care. That sounds like a fair and reasonable system?
The gubmint is bitching though, saying the scheme costs too much. So they are going to examine every single card holder to see if they warrant one. This confused me. What difference does it make whether a person warrants a card or not? If they have one but don't use it, then it costs nothing? So why are they talking about removing cards from the least well off?
There was a throwaway line in a debate on the subject last night. They were discussing this review of card holders [and how much is that revue going to cost?] when someone mentioned that the reason they wanted to reduce the number of cards was that doctors were being paid a flat rate for every card holder on their books?
What the fuck?
No one batted an eyelid?
These brain-dead morons could save the country millions with one miniscule change to the system.
Scrap the review. That would save a couple of millions to start with.
Then all they have to do is make doctors explicitly claim for a card holder's visit.
It could not be simpler. No blanket payments to doctors for treatment they never gave, just get them to clam for the treatment they did give.
A fucking tadpole could work that one out.
But then I suppose we are dealing with clueless politicians?
It would certainly make sense to have the medical card and the free medical treatment means tested.
And doctors getting paid for everyone on their books is utter madness.
It's the old story – it's our money so they just throw it away and then tax us further when they run out.
I thought Ireland has a system like the UK? Who has to pay for treatment at the point of use? Is it expensive? I am curious as it would never occur to me to have insurance visiting Ireland, maybe I need to think again.
Unless you have a Medical Card you pay the doctor, cash on the nail [anywhere between €50 and €90 per visit]. A visit to A&E also costs a nominal sum though I'm not sure what it is [€10? €20? €40?]. Treatment in A&E is free if you survive the waiting lists which usually involve sleeping on a gurney for a couple of nights. As far as I am aware, they don't charge for the MRSA.
As far as I am aware, visitors from other EU countries avail of the system under the terms of their home arrangement, so you would be treated as if you were an NHS patient.
Rumour has it that continental hospitals all have tin sheds out the back for treating Irish people – just like home!
I have to agree. Medical cards for all children under 5 is just a waste. I'd prefer to see a mean tested refund scheme instead. My wife says this couldn't have come at a better time as we have a new born baby. But I know we would be fine without it. I'd rather that my taxes go on something that's of use to the country. There are people like me who will obviously feel the empty pockets when a doctors visit is required but we'll survive. There are people out there who really need a medical card for under 5's but there are also people out there who bring their kids to a GP for every scraped knee. I just think this was a way of winning over the public while with the other hand they were robbing us blind.
Medical cards for children and Children's Allowance should both be means tested. They are just throwing money away on the feeble excuse that it's "too difficult to implement". It's strange that they were able to implement a complex home tax, and install water meters?
I agree – just a sop to keep the peasants happy.