Prescription charge increase (England only)

[helvella]

Just so you are aware, as of tomorrow (first of April, 2019), prescription charges in England, for those who do not hold exemption certificates, rise from £8.80 to £9.00.

And a reminder, being eligible for an exemption certificate does NOT mean you are exempt. You must apply for and receive that exemption certiifcate (Medex) and renew it as required.

If you are not eligible for exemption on any grounds, you should consider a prepayment certificate - especially as the cost of that has not risen.

This year, therefore, we have increased the prescription charge by 20 pence from £8.80 to £9 for each medicine or appliance dispensed. To ensure that those with the greatest need, and who are not already exempt from the charge, are protected we have frozen the cost of the prescription prepayment certificates (PPC) for another year. The 3-month PPC remains at £29.10 and the cost of the annual PPC will stay at £104. Taken together, this means prescription charge income is expected to rise broadly in line with inflation.

gov.uk/government/speeches/...

[jgelliss]

It's AWFUL . There is No reason why thyroid meds are so expensive . There ought to be an out cry from thyroid patience that are in need of thyroid meds . Lets Be Heard .

[TSH110 in reply to jgelliss]

We should not have prescription charges at all in my opinion, like it used to be. Scotland has ditched them. If you are hypothyroid you are entitled to free medication via the exemption certificate but despite hyperthyroidism being very serious you have to pay because there is no guarantee it is lifelong - nuts if you ask me. Medical need is paramount in both cases.

[jgelliss in reply to TSH110]

I most certainly agree with you . It's ridiculous what we as thyroid meds depended patients have to put up with . First begging for our meds that out so outrageously expensive . Having back orders and than still dealing with reformulations that work like placebo . We are a big enough thyroid community around the world and we ought to let ourselves be heard . ***We Not Going To Take It Any More *** . And We Shouldn't . There is no reason that thyroid meds when finally given are so expensive . ***It's Not a Privilege it's Our Necessity ***.

[TSH110 in reply to jgelliss]

I have given up on the conventional channels and buy my own NDT and T3 anyone would think we asked for this disorder and should accept and be grateful for whatever we are given even if we still feel ill which must be all in our heads....when we know full well they are the symptoms we had when (in my case) untreated and very overtly hypothyroid that have not resolved they are not some new mental disorder. Odd that NDT can put it right with some T3 in it. It must be a coincidence or placebo effect 🙄 of course!

[TSH110]

Not sure if you can advise I understand that prescriptions are free after 60 is it best to still have an exemption certificate or does it become superfluous?

[helvella Administrator in reply to TSH110]

Totally superfluous - the application would probably be rejected (can't remember but I assume it has date of birth somewhere).

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

THanks Helvella do you have to take your birth certificate or are you believed if you are an old codger. Mine was issued before I was 60 but does not run out for a few years. I had no idea they were free at 60 till a pal told me he had stopped having to pay for his nut tablets (his description of citalopram!)

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

No dob just start and end date mines till 22. Oh well one less bit of plastic to cart around

[helvella Administrator in reply to TSH110]

Ah! I meant, the application form would have date of birth, not the card itself.

Also, FP10 prescriptions have date of birth on them so the pharmacy can tell immediately.

haveyoursay.org/content/wha...

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

I misunderstood. At least there’s no need for presenting a birth certificate at the pharmacy. Good job I have not presented the exemption certificate on turning 60 i winder if you could get into trouble using it in error on reaching 60. I never kept the bumf on all that