Exemption card

[Pray4health]

Are we entitled to a medical exemption card due to this condition?

[sparkly]

Yes, just speak with your gp receptionist and I think they sort it out or give you a form to send off.

[HilaryWB in reply to sparkly]

Yes you are

[Obsdian in reply to sparkly]

Yes, this. Receptionist posted it too. Took about 3 weeks to get mine. You can also get a refund on medication paid for while you waited.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Exemption from prescription charge is NOT based on the condition alone but that you require to be prescribed thyroid hormone for myxoedema (old-fashioned name for hypothyroidism).

Not meaning to be pernickety but whilst you may be prescribed levothyroxine, others reading your post might not be clear what you are asking about. And some might think think that you would be eligible even in the period between initial blood test and finally receiving a prescription.

Visit this link:

nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-...

And if you need to get a prescription dispensed before you receive your exemption, ask for an NHS refund form (FP57) when you pay.

Note: This applies in England ONLY. No prescription charges in the other three nations.

[thyreoidea]

Yes, it’s the only positive thing about this condition. My GP told me about this when he gave me the diagnosis of Hypothyroidism.

I cannot quite remember who notified the relevant department in the NHS but I was sent something plastic the size of a credit card stating my exemption from all prescription charges.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to thyreoidea]

'I cannot quite remember who notified the relevant department'

You need to obtain a form from GP surgery, fill in the details and then a GP has to sign before sending it to the relevant department. It doesn't happen automatically. If you don't ask for the form, you may not get given one and will end up paying for all your medications, including thyroid hormone.

[thyreoidea]

you will only need one of these until you are 60 years old.

Medical Exemption Certificate.

[thyreoidea]

flip side of certificate

Reverse side of certificate no medical conditions shown

[TaraJR]

Pray4health just to say that this entitles you to free prescriptions for thyroid prescriptions PLUS everything else on prescription. So you have antibiotics etc etc all free.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to TaraJR]

And that you MUST be in possession of a valid card - which requires renewal.

Saying you have one, maybe because your current one has fallen out of date, has resulted in all too many patients being fined substantial penalties. Despite them continuing to be entitled to the exemption.

[FallingInReverse]

helvella RedApple TaraJR thyreoidea

Curiosity question from this here American - I thought no one paid anything in the UK anyway.

What is an exemption card?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to FallingInReverse]

In England (but not the other three nations of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) there are prescription charges.

Currently £9.65 per item. (Just over 12 US dollars today.)

There are numerous exceptions: Under 18 and in full item education, pregnant or for some time after giving birth, over 60, in receipt of some benefits, etc. Indeed, the number who have to pay is actually far smaller than the size of the population.

And there is the option of paying a fee and getting all prescriptions without charge - that works out equivalent to paying for around one prescription per month. The problem largely being that even if you can afford it, having any idea in advance that it would be worth paying for is less common!

There is also the issue of what constitutes an "item".

One pack of 28 tablets would be an item.

But if your dose required two different tablets (e.g. 100 + 25) that would be one item if on one prescription.

And for some things, one tube, or one tablet could be a single item.

And there are special rules for contraceptives.

And lots of other special cases.

Now the bit that is really relevant here - exemption due to medical conditions:

Who is entitled (medical conditions)

You're entitled to a medical exemption certificate if you have either:

a permanent fistula (for example, caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) which needs continuous surgical dressing or an appliance

a form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison’s Disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential

diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism

diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone

hypoparathyroidism

myasthenia gravis

myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism which needs thyroid hormone replacement)

epilepsy which needs continuous anticonvulsive therapy

a continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person

cancer and are undergoing treatment for either:

cancer

the effects of cancer

the effects of cancer treatment

These are the only conditions that entitle you to a medical exemption certificate. If you’re not sure about the name of your condition, speak to your doctor.

It has all sorts of questionable issues. Like not including asthma. Like those with Graves not being exempt even if they need levothyroxine (though sometimes that gets through).

Lots of information here - but you might not have access from over there:

nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp...

An exemption card is, these days, a credit card-like certificate that you can show in a pharmacy. But you don't actually have to show it as the prescription can be signed to say you are exempt. And it requires renewal every few years. And they are not automatically issued - though if everything works as it should, it might feel that they are.

Hopefully, that covers the ground!

[FallingInReverse in reply to helvella]

Thank you! So informative and so interesting!