Over 60s prescriptions

"A decent pension, bus passes and prescriptions - in fact all 'benefits in kind' should be free to all, but paid out of taxation."

I agree with Doodledog about this. Mean-testing is divisive and expensive. DH and I have used our bus passes, (and hope to do so again after the pandemic subsides) not because we can't pay for our fares, but because of the convenience of not having to find out what the fare is in a strange place and then have the right change. As we are fortunate enough to have enough income to do so, we pay tax to help pay for the benefits we get, like our bus pass and free prescriptions. As we are in Scotland, we pay more tax than we would do in England, which is fine by us. If we didn't have the income, we wouldn't have to pay the tax.

HannahLoisLuke

If you’re diabetic like my ex you get all prescriptions free whatever your age. He even gets aspirin, paracetamol etc on prescription when they’re pence to buy. I agree that life saving insulin has to be free but everything?
There are many examples of money wasted in the NHS including paying armies of administrators to control this sort of thing. As long as that goes on they’ll try to claw money back from those who can least afford it.

Undoubtedly you're aware that diabetes is a condition which causes damage to many organs of the body, including the heart, liver, kidneys, eyes and nervous system. Diabetics are prone to neuropathy and infections can cause glucose levels to go haywire. Having diabetes means that infections often take longer to clear. Do you really think it's a waste of money to try and prevent diabetics from being affected by conditions which kill them?

I have a friend in wales my age early 60's now + prescriptions have ALWAYS been FREE whatever age you are, but know changes coming in ENGLAND in a few months time (for think 63 years and under) got to start to pay for their prescriptions, but as I am diabetic my prescriptions will STILL be FREE (but apparently subject to you have to get a form signed by your doctor to get them still for free) and I've got 2 more years for my state pension when other female friends got theirs plus their bus passes at 60. NIGHTMARE. Dont know Scotlands rules myself.

In England, it's the case that diabetics have to have their free prescriptions authorised by the GP and the patient has to have a medical exemption certificate. A few years ago, many people were caught out by this because they had just been ticking the box on their prescriptions and the pharmacists had been trusting the patients.

www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/free-prescriptions

Signed too

Totally against this and have signed. I have 4 prescriptions a month for a life long condition and l have just reached 60 (always paid)
What l do think is odd is my friend who has a Thyroid condition gets not only that medication free, but all medication for all prescriptions (ie ear infections etc) surely a fairer system would be to pay for prescriptions unrelated to those eligible for free prescription drugs?

Not often I agree with Alegrias (though staying out of the politics). Lots of different charges for things depending on which devolved government is dictating policy, and levying local taxes As far as I know, social old age care is still free in Scotland, but not in E&W, don’t know about NI, university student tuition is free to Scots and (used to be, don’t know if it changed after Brexit) free to EU students, but English were charged, in Wales we pay double council tax on outbuildings on our plot which have a separate door and toilet, as they are classed as second homes. As someone said upthread, be careful what you wish for

Anyone on any kind of benefit don’t pay, neither does anyone pregnant or who has had a baby in the last year, children don’t pay, anyone who has diabetes or cancer or any life long illness so it fact there are very few people who pay for prescriptions. If you do then there is the option of paying £130 for a yearly prepayment card. Before people start screaming about this government being unfair they should stand back and think exactly who is going to pay for our drugs they are not cheap and new ones are being developed all the time to treat an ever wider scope of illnesses. The health service would easily swallow up every penny that this country earns and people would still scream for more.. Get real people. And yes before you ask I am 60 and this would mean that I would have to pay an and only have an income a little over the official poverty line but I am just thankful that we have such a good health service. People should stop and think about how lucky we are.

I felt it was slight compensation for having my retirement snatched from me! Its not fair that Scotland and Wales have free prescriptions for all!

Artaylar, what about rare and very expensive prescriptions? Is every Rx free in Wales?

I keep hearing about how they’re free in Scotland and Wales, so go live there !

growstuff

HannahLoisLuke

If you’re diabetic like my ex you get all prescriptions free whatever your age. He even gets aspirin, paracetamol etc on prescription when they’re pence to buy. I agree that life saving insulin has to be free but everything?
There are many examples of money wasted in the NHS including paying armies of administrators to control this sort of thing. As long as that goes on they’ll try to claw money back from those who can least afford it.

Undoubtedly you're aware that diabetes is a condition which causes damage to many organs of the body, including the heart, liver, kidneys, eyes and nervous system. Diabetics are prone to neuropathy and infections can cause glucose levels to go haywire. Having diabetes means that infections often take longer to clear. Do you really think it's a waste of money to try and prevent diabetics from being affected by conditions which kill them?

No of course not but to issue prescriptions for things like paracetamol and antacids which can be bought over the counter for about a £1 but on prescription the cost of that prescription is reclaimed from the government, currently over £9 per item. Does that make sense?

I can't say it's fair enough at 65 I still have to work full-time on a low wage and need monthly prescriptions for 3 serious conditions including asthma this will be a struggle for me

Each nation has its own National Health Service hence there can be variations on treatments etc but thought free prescriptions for over 60s was applied by all 4 nations.

lizziefish1 "its not fair? Why did you vote for a government that 's happy to pile on the agony then ,yes we get "free" prescriptions and care for not just the elderly but people who need it .like my chronically ill 44 year old daughter.Free bus passes for over 60 and everyone under 22 ,an extra child payment for families on benefits of £20 per child under 16 and much much more .BUT we do it on a specified budget which we cant EVER overspend.Maybe you have to speak to your MP and find out why the government in England cant live by a set budget liek the rest of us have to?
We pay higher tax and like me my friends would happily pay an extra couple of pennies in the £ if it means we can get the important things done .Is it FAIR that Scotland has to pay a share of debts we didn't incur? Like Londons sewers or London crossrail or HS2 .?

A lot of people do not pay for prescriptions as pointed out by a previous poster. If you are still working at 60 plus why shouldn’t you pay for your prescriptions? I think it’s probably fair that it should be linked to State Pension age. If people can afford to pay they should. After all this is money going back into the NHS.

I've signed and it should be everyone one in the UK not just England that pays for prescriptions its not fair otherwise!

aaarrrggghhhh!

Except for oofy. She's my new friend.

There have been over 6,000 signatures added in the last 24 hours to the petition, it's now at over 11.350. Looks like GN has kick started it again. Keep sharing, you never know what the effect of people power may be. Not holding my breath, but you never know.

When I see the amount of meds that are ‘ditched’ by some people after only a few doses - I wonder if everyone should pay a nominal amount per ‘script’.
Perhaps it would encourage people to ‘finish the course’ and perhaps give an appreciation of how much the actual meds cost?

I'm 57 and my retirement age is 67. I was diagnosed with an extremely rare, incurable and potentially life threatening autoimmune illness 6 years ago. If it weren't for the prepayment certificate I wouldn't be able to afford all the medication I need to take to keep me safe and reasonably healthy. I looked into exemption and I don't qualify, even wrote to MPs about it being considered to be added to the list for exemption, and was told it wasn't even up for putting forward for discussion! 3 in 100,000 people are diagnosed and prior to steroid discovery 95% of those diagnosed died within the 1st year with systemic infection, I'm a member of a UK support group and the members are in the 100's not 1000's. I don't know if I will be able to work to my retirement age but will have to keep going as long as I can. As I work full-time I can afford the prepayment certificate of £10.81/month over 10 months, but I certainly couldn't afford to pay the prescription charges for the 10-12 items I need per month. I do think we should pay if we can but people should not have to go without necessary medication due to lack of finances. I also think it's wrong that paracetamol is available on prescription for what it costs in the supermarket etc. I just hope I'm fit enough to enjoy retirement when I eventually get there.

HannahLoisLuke I am currently prescribed Co-dydramol (which is Paracetamol with a boost from Dihydrocodeine) for neuropathy which is caused by diabetes. I'm also prescribed Aspirin because I've had a heart attack, for which diabetes is a risk factor. Two diabetic medications are prescribed in addition to a statin and blood pressure medication because underlying diabetes goes hand in hand with cardio-vascular problems. I have hardly been prescribed anything apart from repeat meds. On the other hand, I pay for my own lancets and test strips (about £20 a month) because they're no longer prescribed for most T2 diabetics. I also pay for podiatry, although my foot problems are caused by diabetes.

Georgesgran

When I see the amount of meds that are ‘ditched’ by some people after only a few doses - I wonder if everyone should pay a nominal amount per ‘script’.
Perhaps it would encourage people to ‘finish the course’ and perhaps give an appreciation of how much the actual meds cost?

How do you know how many people ditch their meds?

The simplest and fairest approach is health care free at the point of need, including prescriptions. Education free and based on ability to learn not ability to pay. A properly calculated tax system means we all contribute in a fair way and people shouldn't fall through the cracks by earning pennies too much to qualify for free prescriptions. We've managed to budget for free prescriptions and free higher education in Scotland, as well as extending free travel to young people (and no - we're not subsidised by England). I hope the petition is successful. Price rises, especially fuel bills, are going to hit hard this year as it is, without those caught up in this having to start paying for prescriptions on top of everything else.

The reason paracetamol is given on prescription for certain conditions is the quantity that is needed on a daily basis. I take up to 8 paracetamol every day so if I was buying them over the counter, I would have to buy a packet several times a week. This is not really practical especially as the reason for taking so many is pain relief for arthritis which greatly restricts my mobility. I have a form of arthritis that cannot be blamed on my lifestyle or weight and replacement surgery is not necessarily the solution.