Help paying for treatment?

[Elmo88]

Hello. I have been recommended to try various methods to help my lymphoedema, but unfortunately I am struggling to pay for it. Is there any one help with funding or can I be registered disabled?

[Hidden]

Are you in the UK? And what sort of treatment are you trying to pay for?

If it's for UK prescription items and you're not eligible for free prescriptions (see the back of the prescription) then you can get a prescription pre-payment certificate. A 3 month certificate costs the same as 4 items, or a 12 month certificate costs the same as 14 prescription items. Because a pair of stockings costs 2 prescription charges they quickly mount up.

If it's a different kind of treatment that you're trying to fund then perhaps there are some charities or something that will help. My only knowledge only relates to prescription charges really.

[Elmo88]

Yes, I am in the UK. I would like to find financial help as I am having to travel 2hours to the hospital, prescriptions, I have been told to join a gym change my diet and have MLD. This is all adding up and I am struggling to pay for everything. I was wondering if there is funding or if you can calm disability benefits to help with the costs.

[Lruk]

You can apply for disability benefits but I am not sure that you will get anything. Apart from your travel and prescription costs, the other things can be expensive but don't have to be. You don't need to join a gym to increase your exercise levels. You can eat healthily without spending a fortune but it can be time consuming. As for MLD, I would suggest you speak to your GP to see if there is a clinic near you that can help. Are your hospital visits just for your lymphoedema or another health reason? I attend a clinic every few months but apart from that my LE is self managed.

[jas28]

If your Lymphoedema was caused by cancer treatment you may be eligible for free prescriptions. My Lymphoedema clinic recommended that I apply for a medical exemption certificate, as you are eligible if you are receiving treatment for "cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of current or previous cancer treatment" - see nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcos...

The guidance for GPs says “Treatment includes ... the prescription of lymphoedema garments needed as an effect of cancer or its treatment."

But I'm afraid this is not much help if your Lymphoedema is not cancer related - which does seem a bit unfair.

[Law_Student]

Yes it is extremely unfair that only cancer related lymphoedema gets you a medical exemption certificate. Maybe you could change your GP until you find one that gives you the treatmens available on the NHS. In my experience the best treatments are swimming, occasional multi-layered bandaging and wearing the right compression stockings. It also helps if you are not overweight. I enjoy swimming and my local leisure centre have 3 water aerobics classes per week. I go swimming everyday as well as water aerobics. In my area this costs £19 per month. My swelling has reduced significantly and the excercise just makes me feel better as well.

[harpy1 in reply to Law_Student]

Now that is interesting, I have been contemplating going swimming but feel embarrassed by my swollen left leg. But if you are finding its helping with reduction in fluids this is marvellous news. I shall have to find out my local swimming club and its activities. Thank you Law Student.

[Elmo88]

Thank you for all the suggestions. I am waiting for my compression stockings and will start to make the changes. Fingers crossed it all helps.

[AeThomas]

One of the previous answers has me concerned, this year I have eventually seen our local Lymphoedema clinic (I was first diagnosed 2006).

And have been told that for Lymphoedema your stockings are counted as 1 item for prescription charges, for Vascular conditions they are charged per leg! 3 pairs (6 charges) later.

My Pharmacist confiirmed this anomaly as well

[Andy13 in reply to AeThomas]

Might be worth considering pre-paying. £104 per year, or £29.10 buys you free prescriptions. If you know you're going to be paying for 4 in one hit then pre paying saves you a couple of pounds but after that any more prescriptions during the 3 month period are free.

[Fatfeet]

unless things have changed recently, it is one prescription per item. I have below knee stockings and toe gloves so i am wearing 4 prescriptions a time. you would normally be supplied with two sets of garments - 8 prescriptions in my case (16 in a year). The best thing to do if you have to pay for prescriptions is get a prepayment certificate which you can apply for on line and of course can be used for other prescriptions you may need. This is only cost effective if you are having over a certain amount of prescriptions over a set period - the details are available with the online info.

[Hidden]

Hi, I have, in the past, helped people claim Disability Living Allowance because they were suffering with Lymphoedema. We have mostly been successful at the lower rate (now about £20 per week.)

This is being replaced by Personal Independence Payment this year as the Govt attempts to save money. Still worth investigating though I think.

[Elmo88 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Aprille, Can I still try to claim if I have primary? If so what is the best way to go about it.

[Hidden in reply to Elmo88]

Hi, Sorry for delay I have been away overnight. I don';t see why you shouldn't put in a claim but ask your C A B as well and I'll do a little research too but I am not an expert in this field since Govt cuts made me redundant!

[novembergirl]

My son has five items altogether: toe caps on each foot, stocking on each leg and an additional stocking below the knee on the left leg. He is still a minor (15) which means free prescriptions thankfully. He is entitled to two sets every six months at the moment (ten items!). Is that standard I wonder? He is also a type 1 diabetic which currently means all his prescriptions should be free even when he is an adult. I hope that continues to be the case. None of this is of any help Elmo88, but I hope it adds to the discussion. It's so hard for people with long term conditions to cope with the associated costs.

[VeronicaBell]

If you pay for your prescriptions like I do then it is per leg and per arm. I wear four prescriptions at a time now because my Lymphoedema started in both legs now in my arms. I got myself a prepayment certificate for £104 for the year, working out it will save me over £50 in a year without counting for other medicine I might need.

[Bluedolffin]

Hi Elmo, It depends which country you live in. In Ireland I am struggling too. The most important is get the help from your lymphatic consultant specialist and to reunite lots of information about our condition. That could make a serious different.

Still waiting for my private insurance to make the final decision when they just read half of the documentation I build for them, then the HSE which irish health board public health. I guess the best place is England throught the NHS. I honestly think nobody wants to help, for them it is a very weird and unknown condition, no doctor wants to get involved. My GP made that clear through her behavior. The ostridge technic is what they are all aiming at.

All the best for you. Best of luck for your operation.