prescription costs

[hanb27]

Does anyone know if SLE diagnosis means you are entitle to free prescriptions? The increasing amount of medication is getting pricey !! Rheumy also advised yearly sight tests so should I still have to pay for those?

[Chapter]

I would think that everyone buying meds has something wrong with them, I don't know why Lupus would be any different from anyone else.

[Tubamags]

I can't see SLE on the list but why don't you get a prepaid prescription? You can get a 3 month one (£29.10) or a 12 month one (£104). If you get more than 4 prescriptions or more a month prepayment would work out cheaper. There aren't many conditions which allow free prescriptions which is understandable. Medicines are very expensive and the NHS can't afford to give them away. I know they are free in other parts of the UK but they have to recoup the money in other ways. Actually £8.05 for some medicine which costs over £100, or even more, to the NHS is a bargain but I can understand the financial burden if you have a lot of them. Get yourself the prepayment. On the website it says that if you take out a 12 month one you can pay in 10 instalments.

I don't know about the sight tests but I think you may well have to pay, unless someone else knows different.

Maggie

[jayfer]

I don't work and pay for my prescriptions by monthly direct debit for pre payment card. It is much cheaper this way. I also have to pay for sight tests, I applied for help but dentist/optician say what I've been allowed is worthless as I won't spend over what they suggest I pay for before they will help with costs- if that makes sense !!

[anbuma in reply to jayfer]

same here.what they say you have to pay towards a voucher froeye tests is worthless nd dental treatment too a s have to pay fro check up btu don't often need that much done,btu it did save me on dentures -just had to pay the £100.would like implants btu that doesn't apply and would cost £5000+

[Mysti25]

Hi, unfortunately lupus doesn't come under the exemptions for free prescriptions or free eye tests. As has already been mentioned the cheapest way for anyone requiring more than two prescription items a month is to obtain a prepayment certificate. You can easily apply for these on line @ nhsbsa.nhs.uk or you can pick up an application at most pharmacies, hospitals and also some GP surgeries. I have a monthly direct debit of £10.40 which is paid for 10 months and I then receive an annual reminder to renew when necessary, I just couldn't afford to pay for monthly repeats otherwise as I require a minimum of 8 items each month and if I get an infection or have a flare then I may require extra items so I do endorse the benefit of having one of these certificates which are simple credit card sized and so are easy to carry around with your usual bank cards etc. With regards to eye testing many opticians offer discounted eye tests from time to time and I tend to wait for these vouchers/offers to come round to book my annual testing.. Boots often offer testing for £10 and Specsavers give regular vouchers for £7.50 eye tests, these can be found in newspapers and often found amongst the junkmail that gets pushed through your letterbox!

[Hidden in reply to Mysti25]

"... Specsavers give regular vouchers for £7.50 eye tests..." Go to their website and search for your nearest store, that's where you find the vouchers. ...I got a free test in my local store.

[hanb27]

thanks think I will do the pre pay, just wondered what others did sometimes these things depend on postcodes!

[misty14]

Hi hanb

If you claim ESA benefit and others you get free prescriptions and eye tests. Worth seeing if your eligible with the help of the Citizens Advice Bureau. X

[hanb27 in reply to misty14]

oh Ii ve not heard of ESA before I will look into it thanks x

[Bonnie39]

I have a medical exemption because I was first diagnosed with autoummune hypothyroidism.

[Hullsue]

I have the yearly prescription card and it has been worth every penny - I know there has been a petition to parliament to add Lupus to the list for free prescriptions but nothing has happened yet. As for eye tests I go regularly to the hospital eye clinic for tests to make sure my meds don't affect my eyesight - I would ask your rummy to refer you there for these sort of tests.

[Hidden]

I think Lupus should be on the list for free prescriptions...as should eye tests. Because I'm on Hydroxychloroquine I have 6 monthly eye checks. Luckily I get those free as a close relative had glaucoma. Unfortunately I still have to pay for prescriptions and I get 4 important meds...so I have the prepayment plan. If you pay by direct debit they keep it going without having to apply every year. They keep it going until you cancel it.

[kinnea]

Generally no, but it depends. I have SLE and had a stroke and post stroke epilepsy, so qualify for free prescriptions as an epileptic not as an SLE sufferer, but it covers all my medication, not just anti-convulsants. Prior to discovering this I was buying quarterly season tickets. I found this the cheapest way to cover the costs. A tip - If you time it right the quarterly can work out cheaper than the annual. If you submit repeat script requests every 3 to 3 and a half weeks you can get 4 months worth of medication from a 3 month ticket meaning you only have to buy 3 tickets annually. Hope this helps.

[Hidden]

Lupus is a serious illness which could end with untimely death. I get to hear that the current criteria for free prescriptions is totally outdated and unfair which needs urgent reviewing. Might be worth Lupus UK to start some campaign for this?

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Hidden]

Hi omega. We agree that the current criteria is unfair and we are already campaigning for free prescription for people with lupus as a member of the Prescription Charges Coalition - prescriptionchargescoalitio...

[hanb27 in reply to Paul_Howard]

Paul could you repost this link on the site again so everyone can notice it, I have only just found your reply through my emails. Think there will be may that would like to sign!

[debby197]

I pay for mine as far as I no only diabetics get free prescriptions as get exemption card as my hubby has one with being on insulin x

[barbdockeray]

Hi i am afraid not i tried but was told that only diabetes gets free prescriptions ..i question it and was told not recognised enough to merit free prescriptions ...seems like we are on our own with all the other costs eye tests etc .xx

[Hidden]

I was given free prescriptions years ago because I had hypothyroidism. Cancer patients and diabetics also qualify for free prescriptions. Of course, in this part of the UK, we all get free prescriptions - great in theory, in practice, there is now talk of re-introducing charges. People are wasteful and we could do with money in the coffers to cover expensive cancer treatments. My mother used to prepay her prescriptions when she had severe asthma, hay fever and eczema. I could never understand why free prescriptions didn't go to people with chronic conditions.

[onamission]

I know a young girl who has Lupus she has to pay for all her prescriptions I pay £104 a year for mine.

I don't understand people who have diabetes gets all meds free doesn't seem right

[Hidden in reply to onamission]

Emm...no insulin...diabetic coma then death? I wouldn't stand between anyone and their free prescriptions.

[onamission]

What should of come over in my post didn't I have no problem with people having insulin free but they get all drugs free.

I have COPD and need antibiotics and steroids I pay for them, Lupus suffers should get meds free like anyone who needs meds all the time we should not discriminate

[Tassiewoo]

I'm on so many tablets and when I saw how much the charges are now for a prescription as I was so shocked. Luckily I went on the yearly pre-payment scheme, £104 a year, and so glad I did. Before thus I did not get ally my medication as I could not afford to pay for 5 prescriptions a month. My hubby is diabetic and on tablets for this, and he feels it totally unfair that I have to pay, as he said Lupus can affect vital organs in the body, and I have to attend so many appointments to keep any eye on my condition. I also have asthma, which my GP thinks may be related to my Lupus, so have regular appointments at the chest clinic and medication for this too. I have signed the petition for free prescriptions.