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Original poster

Why are some prescriptions free and others aren’t?

105 replies

Soubriquet · 12/09/2021 18:31

Before I start, I just wanted to say I do not hate those who get free prescriptions but I do wonder how the nhs can charge between them

Diabetic medicine is covered. Yet inhalers for asthmatics aren’t?

Both are life saving medication but the nhs only covers one

So how do they decide that?

And for those who have to pay, please don’t forget you can get a pre pay certificate which helps pay for your prescriptions every month instead of having to pay for each one

OP posts:
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 12/09/2021 20:42

That sounds a pain - but you'd think they'd have it in their system that you had a massive box last time, the time before, the time before that, so it is indeed normal for you.

I suppose they're just wanting to be careful, but still very annoying for the customer when it's every single time.

JustLyra · 12/09/2021 20:45

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

Eh? Doesn't the pharmacy just dispense whatever the GP has prescribed? Are they trying to overrule the GP?
The pharmacist is the one legally responsible if they hand over the drugs and something goes wrong.

So if it’s an error and they just hand it out they’ll carry the can. They have to check anything unusual

NotMyCat · 12/09/2021 20:46

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

That sounds a pain - but you'd think they'd have it in their system that you had a massive box last time, the time before, the time before that, so it is indeed normal for you.

I suppose they're just wanting to be careful, but still very annoying for the customer when it's every single time.

They still question it now and I've been using the same pharmacy for around 14 years That's not counting the times the GP questions the consultant as well I get it's an overdose to take 4 of the one a day tablets but it's in the guidelines Online is definitely cheaper than buying those 7 in a pack ones!

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General health
TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 12/09/2021 20:46

It's always blown my mind that the pill is free. I get why for teens, students and low income given the consequences but there's no reason for it to be universally free I think?

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 12/09/2021 20:47

@MinnieMountain

It’s an interesting point.

I’ve just looked it up and my Tamoxifen costs the NHS £12.48/month. I would happily pay that myself, and certainly don’t need any other prescriptions for free. Yet there’s no option to do that.

You don't have to apply for a medical exemption certificate if you don't want it.
JustLyra · 12/09/2021 20:53

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams

It's always blown my mind that the pill is free. I get why for teens, students and low income given the consequences but there's no reason for it to be universally free I think?
It makes it available to any woman despite their circumstances (which is going to be helpful for women in financially abusive relationships).

It’s also, bluntly, cheaper than providing more maternity or abortion services

MintyGreenDream · 12/09/2021 20:53

All my prescriptions are free because I take thyroxine.Unsure why.

PaperMonster · 12/09/2021 20:56

For the first two years of being T2D I didn’t take any meds for it, but was told I could apply for an exemption certificate. I didn’t. I was taking a lot of painkillers, but I just paid the prescription charges. At the end of last year I was put on one tablet for the Diabetes so I applied for one. I know it can wreak all kinds of havoc on your body but it does amaze me that I can get this tablet for free for something which I have no symptoms and no ill effects, yet for the musculoskeletal problems I have which very much adversely affect my life I had to pay - until I got the Diabetes diagnosis.

marioduck · 12/09/2021 21:08

Untreated hypothyroidism can cause coma and death, among other things. It is actually a very serious condition.

marioduck · 12/09/2021 21:11

They can't make rules based on how severely each individual person is affected by a condition or compiling lists of which drugs for that condition are free and which aren't and then having to deal with separating them out for charges.

That would be so hideously complex and expensive to administer as to be counterproductive.

ivykaty44 · 12/09/2021 21:16

Not all thyroid medication means prescriptions are free, carbimazile which is a blocking medication for thyroid isn’t free.

ivykaty44 · 12/09/2021 21:19

marioduck Hyperthyroidism is dangerous and can cause coma & death left in medicated but you don’t get free prescription

SisterMonicaJoansHabit · 12/09/2021 21:26

At a few varied periods of my life when I've had to pay for prescriptions (and before you could get the certificate - not that I was able to afford the certificate payment either but hey ho) I went without my inhalers. And I ended up in the doctors and in the hospital on a regular basis. My partner now pays for my certificate.

ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 12/09/2021 21:26

I was once told that any medication that replaces something your body doesn't make/do is free. So thyroxin, insulin, steroids in replacement of a missing adrenal gland - they're all free. My asthma inhalers aren't, because they're not a replacement, it's an addition. Not a clue if that's true though, just something my mum's doctor once told her when she asked why asthma inhalers weren't included, apparently. I've spent a fortune staying alive over the years!

SuperbOwls · 12/09/2021 21:32

@itsgettingwierd

A friend and I had this conversation very recently.

I also said I felt epilepsy tablets should be free along with asthma meds as diabetics gets theirs for free.

But I guess you could say the same for many long term conditions.

But I do think there's a difference between drugs needed to stay alive and medications to help improve conditions and reduce pain.

For example my ds has a genetic neuro condition. He takes a drug called baclofen. This helps his condition but he could survive without it iyswim?

@itsgettingwierd epilepsy meds are free!

It's mad that inhalers aren't, there should definitely be a campaign for this.

ReviewingTheSituation · 12/09/2021 21:33

My DH is T1 diabetic and feels bad that he gets all prescriptions free. Definitely yes to his diabetes meds, but antibiotics for an unrelated condition - why??

On the other hand, he pays for a glucose sensor to help monitor his levels more closely, thereby helping to keep things much better controlled, but the NHS won't fund that, despite the fact it means he is much less likely to need other (more expensive) treatments.

WreckTangled · 12/09/2021 21:38

@ReviewingTheSituation

My DH is T1 diabetic and feels bad that he gets all prescriptions free. Definitely yes to his diabetes meds, but antibiotics for an unrelated condition - why??

On the other hand, he pays for a glucose sensor to help monitor his levels more closely, thereby helping to keep things much better controlled, but the NHS won't fund that, despite the fact it means he is much less likely to need other (more expensive) treatments.

Is that the Libre or Dexcom? Libre is widely available on the NHS now. Dexcom not unfortunately.
JustLyra · 12/09/2021 21:54

@ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule

I was once told that any medication that replaces something your body doesn't make/do is free. So thyroxin, insulin, steroids in replacement of a missing adrenal gland - they're all free. My asthma inhalers aren't, because they're not a replacement, it's an addition. Not a clue if that's true though, just something my mum's doctor once told her when she asked why asthma inhalers weren't included, apparently. I've spent a fortune staying alive over the years!
Asthma inhalers, in their current form, were only invented in 1956. They weren’t commonly available medications when the list was created.
Thefaceofboe · 12/09/2021 22:03

I agree with this. I was diagnosed with a mild underactive thyroid last year, doesn’t affect me much at all although I know it could get worse, and was so shocked to find out I get free prescriptions for life! I presumed it would be only for my thyroid tablets, not everything.

CorpusCallosum · 12/09/2021 22:03

@sueelleker

What always puzzled me (and I worked for the NHS) was that if you had a condition which was exempt, you didn't pay for any medication. eg; a diabetic doesn't pay for antibiotics, painkiller or any unrelated treatments either. I always thought it would be fairer if you only got medication for the exempt condition free, and paid for anything else like most people.

But body structures and functions all depend on each other to work well. If you have an infection requiring antibiotics that's going to impact the stability of your diabetes. If you're diabetic you're more likely to have other co-morbidities which may require meds. Can you ever really the conditions are unrelated?

JustLyra · 12/09/2021 22:14

A system where Dr’s and pharmacists had to spend time debating if something was linked to your main condition would be time consuming, and therefore expensive. Especially as very often it could be debatable

ElephantandGrasshopper · 12/09/2021 22:20

It's annoying having to pay for regular prescriptions. When I was young and broke I used to use my inhalers beyond the point when the counters showed empty, until there was absolutely nothing left in them, and then wonder why my asthma was bad Blush

It was so good getting free prescriptions when I was pregnant and on maternity leave, I requested extra inhalers so that I didn't have to buy any for ages afterwards.

JustLyra · 12/09/2021 22:30

The other thing I think is how under advertised the pre-payment certificate is.

Loads of people don’t know about it.

ilovebagpuss · 12/09/2021 22:30

I don’t mind paying for my inhalers as I know how much cheaper they are than some countries. However I also take a medication for a benign pituitary tumour which keeps all the side effects stable. I am quite fed up that I have to pay for that and they only prescribe 8 doses at a time so I have to pay very regularly. If I didn’t take it the tumour could cause other issues that would cost more to be rectified.

JustLyra · 12/09/2021 22:33

@ilovebagpuss

I don’t mind paying for my inhalers as I know how much cheaper they are than some countries. However I also take a medication for a benign pituitary tumour which keeps all the side effects stable. I am quite fed up that I have to pay for that and they only prescribe 8 doses at a time so I have to pay very regularly. If I didn’t take it the tumour could cause other issues that would cost more to be rectified.
If you average more than one item a month then a prepayment certificate will be cheaper.