The Health Minister says he "doesn't know" how many people will lose their medical cards following Budget 2014.
James Reilly says 113 million euro will be saved by improving the "accuracy" of the medical card system - while over 35-thousand pensioners will be downgraded to a GP-only card due to a lower income threshold.
The Department of Health has earmarked 666 million euro in savings next year - in what the Health Minister described as the toughest Budget his department has had to date.
James Reilly has also signalled that his Department will need a supplementary Budget.
He says the Department of Health will overspend by as much as 200 million euro this year.
