Irish Workers Encouraged to Utilise Medical Treatment Scheme

IRELAND: The Department of Social Protection in Ireland is urging workers not to overlook a valuable medical treatment scheme that could provide benefits worth over €1,500 annually. The Treatment Benefit Scheme offers financial support for dental, optical, and hearing treatments to eligible employees, self-employed individuals, and retirees.

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating that the scheme “is about giving something back to people who work hard and contribute to the system.” This underscores the government’s commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of the Irish workforce.

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Dental Benefits

One of the key components of the scheme is the provision of dental care. Under this benefit, workers are entitled to a free annual oral examination. Additionally, they can receive a €42 payment towards either a scale and polish or periodontal treatment once per calendar year. If the cost exceeds €42, patients are required to pay the difference, with a cap of €15 for scale and polish treatments.

Optical and Hearing Aid Support

The scheme also covers optical benefits, offering free eyesight tests every two years and allowances for glasses, contact lenses, and repairs. For those with specific medical conditions, up to €1,000 can be claimed towards medical contact lenses every second year.

Hearing aid support is another crucial aspect of the scheme. Eligible individuals can receive a grant of up to €500 per hearing aid every four years, with a maximum of €1,000 for a pair. The scheme also covers repair costs up to €100 per aid every four years.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Treatment Benefit Scheme, individuals must have a minimum of 260 PRSI contributions paid under specific classes since starting work. Additionally, they need to have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year.

Minister Humphreys emphasized the scheme’s accessibility, particularly for younger workers: “I especially encourage those under 25 to look at their entitlements under the scheme. In 2022, I changed the insurance contributions required for younger workers to made it easier for them to qualify.”

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Scheme Impact and Encouragement

The impact of the Treatment Benefit Scheme has been significant, with almost 1.2 million PRSI-paying individuals benefiting from €92 million in claims so far this year. This demonstrates the scheme’s widespread reach and importance to Irish workers.

Minister Humphreys strongly encourages all workers to explore their entitlements, stating, “I strongly encourage all workers to look at their entitlements under the Treatment Benefit scheme where they can avail of free dental examinations, eyesight checks and hearing tests.”

As the scheme continues to provide vital support for medical treatments, it remains an essential resource for Irish workers, promoting better health outcomes and financial relief for those who contribute to the nation’s workforce.