Prescription payments

[ijeasike]

I have had HC2 certificate but because I got a part-time job so it became HC3 I now have to pay for my repeat prescription which is more than 12 medications. I was asked to get a medical certificate but unfortunately Lupus is not included or covered in the medical certificate. I would I afford to pay every month.

Lupus is a life long illness why are we not covered. Must we be unemployed to get help with more than 12 medications? It really sad

[PMRpro]

You can get a pre-payment certificate - not free but may be less than paying for each:

nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-pres...

There isn't much sense in the English system - I have never understood why someone who needs thyroxine gets free everything else!

[rlupus in reply to PMRpro]

Its the same for me to i have a lot of meds and inhalers and nebuliser to and the only way I can get some sort of help is pre payment its discussting we have to pay when there is no cure and also needing help to breath that we have no choice but to pay . They used to let me get 3 months of drugs on s prescription but the ccg stopped it along with most other services I have to pay like physio and acupuncture now .

[Karm]

Maybe see if your doctor can suggest anything. Sometimes they know little loop holes or maybe a different type of form to be able to get help. It's crazy how much prescriptions are now. And it's especially hard if you have to have a lot at one time like you do. Hope you can figure something better out 🙂

[Jhoyjhoy]

Apply NHS PCC I paid £10.59 every month for 10 payment for 1 year (tick f) when you collect your medication

[Karm]

You can have the prescriptions done automatically every 3 months etc and then you know how much it will all be. I had it also where the GP done it for me, and yes the CCG put a stop to alot of things that make it easier and helpful for us, even to stop the GPs filling out forms such as PIP,DLA etc. It's not easy when you have a lot of medicine .

[Poshcards]

For over 20 tears I paid for my prescriptions until I retired. I bought a yearly certificate x

[ijeasike]

It is sickening, if diabetic can have a medical exemption , then we deserve a medical exemption because we have to have medication all our lives too

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi ijeasike . You are right that unfortunately lupus isn't on the prescription charge exemption list - although some people can be if they have meet one of the other criteria (such as a thyroid condition).

The current exemption list is arbitrary and unfair. It was actually created over 50 years ago and hasn't been amended since! LUPUS UK is part of the Prescription Charges Coalition which campaigns for free prescriptions for people with chronic health conditions - prescriptionchargescoalitio...

The coalition hasn't been able to make any progress this year because COVID-19 has taken over all other priorities but I hope it will more active next year. There is growing evidence that free prescriptions for various long-term conditions actually results in less cost for the NHS.

[ijeasike in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thanks Paul, for your reply let's hope that next things will get better.