Following on from the visit of The Minster for Disabilities, Finian McGrath, Spinal Injuries Ireland conducted a survey to provide him with up to date statistics on the impact of a lack of automatic entitlement to a medical card for people with spinal cord injury. The results of this survey have been forwarded to the Minister and his staff following two meetings with SII and the Minister’s office, as well as the Ministers’ attendance at the SII AGM in October 2016.
The survey was emailed to 716 Service Users and phone calls were made to a further 220 service users. A total of 389 surveys were completed (41% of those contacted).
Q.1 How old are you?
15 (4%) respondents were aged between 15 to 25 years old
42(11%) respondents were aged between 26 to 35 years old
94 (24%) respondents were aged between 36 to 45 years old
96 (25%) respondents were aged between 46 to 55 years old
81 (21%) respondents were aged between 56 to 65 years old
61 (15%) respondents were aged 66 years and older
Q.2 What year did you sustain your spinal cord injury?
374 respondents answered:
107 (29%) sustained their injury in the past 5 years
85 (23%) sustained their injury between 2005 and 2010
61 (16%) sustained their injury between 1999 and 2010
124 (32%) sustained their injury previous to 1999.
Q.3. Which of the following best describes your current occupation?
388 respondents answered:
71 (18%) in full or part time employment
159 (41%) unemployed
18 (5%) in full or part time education
6 (1%) undertaking voluntary work
21 (5%) at home full time with children
27 (7%) self employed
86 (22%) other
Q.4. Do you have a Medical Card?
389 respondents answered:
272 (70%) – Yes
117 (30%) – No
Q.5. If the answer to Q4 is ‘yes’, is your Medical Card:
331 respondents answered:
161 (49%) – Means tested (issued based on your assessed household income)
104 (31%) – Discretionary (issued based on medical need though your household income may be over the threshold)
66 (20%) – I do not have a Medical Card
Q.6. If the answer to Q.4. is ‘no’, have you been previously issued and then subsequently lost your Medical Card?
314 respondents answered:
69 (22%) – Yes
121 (38%) – No
124 (39%) – Not applicable, I have a Medical Card
Q.7. Has taking up full or part time employment resulted in you losing your Medical Card?
364 respondents answered:
38 (10%) – Yes
132 (36%) – No
194 (53%) – Not currently employed
Q.8. Does fear of losing your Medical Card prevent you from seeking paid employment now or in the future?
356 respondents answered:
155 (43%) – Yes
102 (29%) – No
99 (28%) – Not applicable, I am currently employed
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