"Your medical exemption certificate is about to expire."

[puncturedbicycle]

Got a letter today telling me my exemption cert is going to expire. I thought these were good for ages. It can't have been more than three-ish years - ? - since I got mine. If you have Hashi's and will need meds for a lifetime what's the thinking behind this? Or are all exemption certs only good for a short time?

[LouiseRoberts]

This says they are normally valid for 5 years:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/NHS_In...

[Slj1970]

Just checked the date on mine and it lasts 5 years.

[puncturedbicycle]

I possibly got it when I was diagnosed before I was treated. Thanks all. x

[susymac]

They are in the process of being changed, currently they are now only issued for 3 years at a time, further changed that are in the pipelines are that they will no longer be for specifically diagnosed illnesses only, but will be based on income and need.

There is a government paper on it somewhere on the internet on the official government website. I have no idea if the full paper I read was passed as it was the proposals I read, but a lot of these this go through un noticed. A google search should find it

[Hidden in reply to susymac]

Very interesting, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

[bantam12]

Hi susymac

I received my new card yesterday and it covers the next 5 years the same as my last one!

Where did you read they are issued for 3 years only?

[Coopsie]

My pharmacist told me not to worry if it expires they will still issue for free.

[val29661]

Can't remember how long they are valid for but you should get a form for you to fill in for another one, that's what happened with mine, suppose they can't send them out with a lifetime exemption in case a condition gets better (e.g. diabetics on metformin, for some people it is possible to get their blood sugars under such control that they no longer need medication so therefore they would lose their medical exemption)

[Maggiet]

Mine has expired. Although I now live in Scotland where all prescriptions are free, I often return to England to visit family and if I needed a script when visiting then I would have to pay. So I emailed and then rang dept that issues them and was told they would send a form - still waiting over 2 months later!

[jacksprat]

I got my exemption certificate in the eighties and didn't know you had to have them renewed. I have merrily ticked the back of my script ever since as exempt and no one has ever queried it.Oh dear now what do I do.

[Piedo in reply to jacksprat]

That's exactly what I do just tick the exempt ion box I have never had an exception card. The pharmacist told me to it.It doesn't t matter for me now as I was 60 in October.

[TSH110]

Hi pb When I filled the form in for mine it said it was valid for 5 year and you have to renew it. I think I got my form from my surgery. I hope you get a new one sorted soon.

[bantam12]

It is valid for 5 years and GP surgeries have the forms to apply, you fill in your bit and GP signs it.

When renewal is due you should get a reminder in the post.