Prescription charges

Does anyone know if rheumatoid arthritis come under chronic medication and if so is it free like meds for epilepsy and cancer

[sylvi]

No darling it doesn't.xxxx

[AgedCrone]

Sylvi is right in that RA meds are not automatically free, but if you look on the back of your prescription there is a list of other exceptions.

If you don't qualify under any of those ....look on nhs.uk/health costs

You can get a pre-payment certificate that costs around £10 per month....you can get as many prescriptions as you need using that.

Details on 0300 330 1343.....see leaflet HC11 on line.

Once you've applied for the form you can start ticking the back of the scrip,& not pay for every item individually.

I'm not an NHS nerd.,,,,,,I only have all this info to hand because I just picked up a scrip & had the form handy !!!

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

It is a shame as it is a life long disease for many

[Gnarli in reply to Hidden]

The exemption list is 50 years out of date apart from a handful of conditions added a few years back and it's rubbish

[Millysmum]

No, our best option is pre pay. It's really easy to do online, the cheapest option for prepay is £104 for 12 months. If you are unable to do it online can pick up a form from the chemist.

[Nsmith13]

people with thryroid problems get free prescription

[hawker955]

That's a good question. ~I paid for mine, except the Humira via a pre-payment card that as a saving. Nowadays it is all free because of my age!

[BoneyC]

No! I've paid since I was 16 - 38 years!

[nomoreheels]

No, but NRAS have been campaigning to get it changed so it will come under medical exemptions. It's ridiculous we have to pay seeing as we have to take meds, it would cost me a fortune for mine if I didn't buy a pre-payment one annually. Just renewed mine, £104, just worked out it would cost me £1135.20 annually if I didn't buy one. Crazy it's not been accepted by the powers that be as a chronic illness. If you take thyroid meds for Hashimoto's (which as you probably know is another autoimmune condition) they are exempt so you'd also get your RD meds no charge. My h is diabetic, only needs 3 meds plus his testing strips but gets all his other meds for conditions not listed free too & he's on more meds than me!

[Hidden in reply to nomoreheels]

I have been fined twice recently about £200 for ticking the wrong box, ah well they give it with one hand and take with the other

[nomoreheels in reply to Hidden]

No! That's a bit steep, flipping heck.

[Hidden in reply to nomoreheels]

I have to appeal, the fine is for ticking the wrong box.