Prescription charges for people over 60s

[TG58]

So with prescription charges, likely to go ahead in April, for people from 60 to 66 with no exemptions for people below 66, how do people feel about this, as it's likely certain lung conditions, won't be considered life threatening, so a lot of us will now have to pay for inhalers, and other medications.

[Hidden]

I think that's really unfair is that!

[Hidden]

Good morning! I’ve never understood why people complain about prescription charges. They’re incredibly cheap if you get a pre-payment certificate. £107 pa or £30 pcm covers the cost of ALL your meds. For the yearly one you can even pay monthly by direct debit. Also, people in receipt of benefits don’t have to pay anyway.

Here’s a link to the relevant site, which also contains a link explaining all the exemptions

nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescri...

[TG58 in reply to Hidden]

Incredibly cheap for one person, is not necessarily, cheap for another, and particularly those, who need regular monthly meds, it's ok saying you get it free on benefits, but what if you are working, and on a low income, which doesn't quite reach the threshold of getting freebies !

[Hidden in reply to TG58]

My point is, say you’re on 10 drugs every month. With a pre-payment cert the cost is fixed at £2 pw, and that includes any ad hoc prescriptions too. That’s what I mean by “incredibly cheap”. If you’re on a low income, you don’t have to pay anything.

[TG58 in reply to Hidden]

It's not true if your on a low income, you don't pay ! like I previously said, it depends how low your income is, if your just on the threshold, you have to pay.

[Hidden in reply to TG58]

Well let’s not argue about it, Terry. You asked for opinions, and that’s mine 🤷‍♀️ It’s in the nature of thresholds that some people will be just outside it, & I’m sorry if that affects you.

The rationale for increasing the age exemption to 66 is that it’s linked to state pension age, and unfortunately no one gets a pension at 60 anymore

[Patk1 in reply to TG58]

You only get it free on certain benefits,not all

[B0xermad in reply to TG58]

Hi I am on benefits but contributions based and still have to pay for prescription before I was 60,it's only income based who get the free prescription. I don't mind paying for the yearly direct debit ppc as it takes away from the stress on NHS

[Bingo88 in reply to TG58]

To my way of thinking the more we just let them keep taking things away. The more they will keep doing. I guess some people were not affected by the 6 years and 1 year increases on retirement age so have not been affected at all. But as you say. If you're on a low income and struggling you are probably worse off than scroungers on the dole getting benefits who could work. Brian

[music in reply to Hidden]

Thanks very much for this information Hanner62 has very helpful

Best wishes

music

[inhaler1 in reply to Hidden]

I have not written on forum for a long time, but have multiple sclerosis and Bronchiecstasis, i did pay over £100 for prescription before i was 60 but it was difficult but needed the meds to stay alive, i worked as a senior nurse in NHS until early retirement and that £100 + had to be taken out of money saved for a day out with family or a Birthday meal with friends So please be careful and realize that not everyone has money to pay for their medication, i have known people get very ill because they ran out of their medication and had to delay getting a new prescription due to lack of funds.

We are all people with diffrent incomes and spending power.!!

I do not realy need a reply just felt so sad to know the wealth divide still exists

[Bingo88 in reply to inhaler1]

Sadly it's called I am OK jack. Not bothered about anyone else. Thanks for all you have done caring for others. Brian

[inhaler1 in reply to Bingo88]

Thank you, i enjoyed my time caring for others until my ill health retirement, no regrets but also very little money but very happy life.

[busygardener in reply to inhaler1]

Im at that phase my self at present,been ill on and off 7 months understand my boss needs to staff department with fit staff not with one that sounds worse than the patients .Have retired and rehired but dont get state pansion for another 18 months ,seem to change my mind daily on whether i can breathe or not .

[Bingo88 in reply to inhaler1]

Yes I am sorry you are now struggling a little financially after working so many years and having to finish through I'll health. The system is certainly not right

[Karenanne61]

The problem too is when, as many of us do, we need multiple prescriptions. The other problem is that where I used to get say three months supply now I only get one month, so that bumps up the cost. However, bizzarly, having no thyroid gland and being on levothyroxine means I pay no prescription charges! (I know hypothyroidism is life threatening but so are lung diseases.)

[MMaud in reply to Karenanne61]

Do you have a link confirming the thyroid meds point? I see reference to hypoparathyroid conditions, but parathyroid and thyroid differ of course

[Karenanne61 in reply to MMaud]

No sorry. As far as I remember I had to apply using a form from the doctors. My thyroid 'broke' about 20 years ago.

[SeasideSusie in reply to MMaud]

MMaud

Here it is

nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescri...

Myxoedema (hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement)

I've been on Levo since 1975 and was issued with an exemption card then. I moved from England to Wales in 1994 and free prescriptions for all was introduced in 2007 in Wales.

[MMaud in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie.

[Bevvy]

I do think it is time for the list of conditions that mean free prescriptions is reviewed. It seems very unfair that conditions which are likely to become worse and then require hospital treatment should be excluded. Whilst I appreciate that the list simply can include every long term condition, it seems a false saving when comparing prescription costs with cost of hospital admissions!

[younginmind]

In years gone by - my late husband had a few medications, so the cheapest way was to buy an 'annual pass' - some prescriptions I know you can buy from your chemist at a cheaper price than the prescription charge. Personally as I am of 'a certain age' I receive free medication in the UK of which I very much appreciate - as we spend some of the year abroad, & have had to during the past 2 years due to covid - I pay the same as the 'locals' who do not get all medications free, only the ones listed on the government list, so one of my inhalers costs here Euros 70pm which is about the same as I receive in state pension. OK I am not happy to pay it, but if it keeps me alive?

[TG58 in reply to younginmind]

Which inhaler is it you pay 70 Euros for, if you don't mind me asking please.

[younginmind in reply to TG58]

Ultibro, my respiratory consultant said it is the best for me, I have had lung cancer & have COPD. It is free in the UK under the NHS.

[Kristicats]

I also think it’s unfair as most of us in that bracket had planned to retire at 60 and are having to work mostly part time for the extra 6 years as cannot afford not to. As I cannot live on my nhs pension I have to work part time to survive so extra expense is at the worst time. There are many people between 60 and 66 that can only manage part time especially with medical issues and get very little help if any financially as it is. I didn’t mind paying yearly for my meds before I was 60 as I had a good salary and a partner to share bills but would struggle now. I cannot get any benefits so once again the workers loose out! And this is of no disrespect to anyone on benefits.

[Bingo88 in reply to Kristicats]

Absolutely agree with you. Its a disgrace our governments look after the won't work. More than the people who have worked

[Caspiana]

I can only comment in general. The U.K. government spends approximately 17 to 18 billion pounds a year on medicines a growth of about 5% over year since 2016. This rate is not compatible with the NHS budget and it is no longer sustainable.

In Japan people pay a portion of their medical bills plus medication. Around thirty percent. The government pays the rest. This way the strain of medical costs is (not perfect) but at this point manageable. Depending on one's income some people are exempt and those with severe disabilities also have free medical. But by and large we pay something. Or else I believe our system would have collapsed long ago. I think this was always in the cards for you. It was just a matter of when.

[TG58 in reply to Caspiana]

I wouldn't disagree, however I think the problem is, when we pay so much in national insurance from our salary, which is just about to be increased, it grates on people then having to pay more, for something we have paid into all of our lives. Then you have the billions wasted by the NHS yearly, on admin jobs that shouldn't exist, it's just redicoulus that there is so much waste, and in that sense yes it is unsustainable, but mainly because it's all, handled wrong by the government.

[Caspiana in reply to TG58]

I understand your point and yes, the mismanagement of funds is a huge problem. They need to get a grip and do better. 👍

[Izb1 in reply to Caspiana]

So agree with you Caspiana. But we must have change as the system needs a complete overhaul x

[Trishe]

Hi TG58I was on all.my medication before I was at retirement age, snd would've had to pay for it, but we bought a 12 month prepayment prescriptions certificate, can't remember what it was called, but I you enqire at your pharmacy or Gp surgery they should be able to tell you where to apply , it cost around £104 for the whole year then it doesn't matter how many prescriptions you have in that year, you do need to have at least 4 items per month regularly.

Good luck

Trish

[Patk1 in reply to Trishe]

Yes i had pre payment certificate too

[JJ_7]

I had to pay an annual prescription charge before I was 60 and always thought it was good value. I now receive free as I am over 66yrs. I had no issue with paying the yearly subscription. There will always be exemptions for people with permanent disabilities.

[Bingo88]

I think it's completely unfair like the old age pension increases. I didn't know it was going ahead I just thought it was an idea. Need to get a change petition up to appeal about it. If it is being brought in. Brian

[Bingo88]

Good morning. I have just done some checking and it appears its still an idea at present to move the age for free prescriptions to 66. And not sure if it's going to come in . Let's hope it doesn't. Brian

[katieoxo60]

Good question TG58, there are two routes to consider one is the prepayment way which for example in my case I have 5 prescriptions per month which would only be £6 each or if I needed more less than £6 each. The other route is to claim on low income grounds even pensioners have to do this for dental, optical and other NHS items like travel to hospital. The amount of prescriptions classed as absolutely necessary are very small but for some inhalers are important and often expensive to buy. The only ones who get free prescriptions are those over or under a certain age and those on certain benefits which has recently been tightened up. I think as time goes on we will all have to pay as part of the future aims in respect of government finance and what the NHS can afford . I f prescriptions help your condition why not pay for them and find cheapest way, just like anything else you would buy. We are one of the very few countries that have a totally free health service. Think we would still need a system for the very poor, or we would become like the third world. Enjoy your day.

[Patk1]

I've had a think and while id happily get and pay for a pre payment certificate again,it's totally unfair if over 60s are targeted.we by age alone,are most likely to need prescriptions.many of us are too ill to work the extra 6years we have to wait for state pension which is £65 per week more than esa. So we are among the poorest In society,on that basis,no its not on