Healthcare scheme extended to more pensioners

More than 1,000 people will benefit from a scheme which provides financial support for pensioners to access dental, chiropody and optical check-ups and treatments, Jersey government has said.

The Pension Plus Scheme is to be extended to 1,300 more pensioners.

The scheme, which also gives discounts for GP visits, was approved by the States Assembly as part of the budget and started on 30 March, the government said.

The change in eligibility criteria had been proposed by Lyndsay Feltham, minister for social security.

The means tested scheme is currently only available to lower income pensioners who have no income tax liability and less than £64,000 in savings, excluding the value of their home.

The change means pensioner households with a combined income tax liability of up to £1,000 and less than £64,000 in savings will now be entitled to join both the Pension Plus Scheme and the Health Access Scheme.

Feltham said the changes "reinforced" the government's commitment to expanding healthcare support for pensioners.

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