The number of people with discretionary medical cards is at its highest in three years but some children with serious conditions are still being turned down for the means-tested benefit.
Angela O’Connor’s nine-year-old daughter Lucy is one of these children who has a rare case of lymphoma.
Jonathan Healy spoke to Angela earlier this month about the reasons she was refused a medical card and the bills she is expected to pay as a result of her daughter's illness.
"It's just a shock. We have three other children." She continued: "It's like a black cloud hanging over you.
"I haven't worked since September myself because your whole life then becomes revolved around the hospital."
Angela received word again today that despite the appeal, her daughter will still not be issued a medical card.
She spoke to Jonathan Healy again about her daughter's case: "It's very difficult, I'm watching my daughter and all I want for her is to be back in school and not to be out there trying to fight for what I thought she would be entitled to.
"I hung up the phone to the HSE yesterday and I burst into tears because I don't know even know if it's frustration, humiliation. You just feel like, somebody is sitting in an office deciding that my daughter shouldn't get anything.
"I'm not looking for anything else for anyone else in the family, it's just Lucy and it's just for the duration of her treatment."
She said she would tell Leo Varadkar: "It's not just our family, there are other families going through this.
"I've a lot of respect for Leo Varadkar. I was contacted by his office and I was told he wanted to sort this out."
You can listen to her interview here:
Lunchtime contacted the Department of Health on the issue of Lucy's medical card. A spokesperson for the department told us they do not make decisions on the issuing of medical cards and it was a matter for the HSE.
The programme contacted the HSE who said that they do not wish to comment on the details of an individual case.
Many applicants for medical cards may not have a card granted to them as their financial means may well exceed the allowable income threshold for the granting of a medical card.
