Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)?

[SurferGuy]

Guys, a very quick question please; Do Lupus patients have to pay for their Prescription Prepayment Certificate? Or is it free as it is for some illnesses?

[overnighthearingloss]

I have a PPC. I think we are generally required to pay unless on income support

[SurferGuy in reply to overnighthearingloss]

Thank you. I've been blindly paying for it for the last 12 years and never thought to find out if payment was needed. And I don't even have more money than sense to go about behaving like this!

[overnighthearingloss in reply to SurferGuy]

If there have been any new changes I am sure someone will advise. I, like you just renew the PPC every year now.

[Andfiona in reply to overnighthearingloss]

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-w...

You don’t get free prescriptions for having lupus but might be worth checking the list as some of these conditions may coexist with the lupus

[Hidden]

Used to cost me a fortune as Lupus isn't covered, that was until the Scottish National Party got in power and changed that for everyone by making prescriptions free

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi SurferGuy ,

We have a page on our website about this which you may find helpful - lupusuk.org.uk/prescription...

[SurferGuy]

A great move by Scotland. In fact, I was supposed to be in Edinburgh this week

[Poshcards]

Quite simply yes x

[fabwheelie]

Unfortunately Lupus not a named condition. However it is worth checking the " are you eligible" link

services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/chec...

This can be useful if you have a "low income" and it's worth checking because the rules for low income for prescriptions (HC2 "low income" ) are actually a little different from the income rules for the HC3 (Limited help) ... I for example, can not get HC2 but can get HC3 ...The HC3 limits maximum amount you'd have to pay for certain treatments so It can help if you have big costs associated with any of those ... nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-incom...

Just to add to information already given. Some people if on long term steroids do get Drs to confirm it affects their adrenal glands / causes "hypoadrenalism" (Addison's disease) ... and then they can sometimes become medically exempt from prescription costs based on their medical record showing affecting adrenal glands nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-cer...