What happens if you can't afford your medication?

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I can btw, this is not a begging thread, but I'm taking the money from my savings, and I don't always have money in my savings, which has got me pondering.

If I didn't have savings and my asthma medication ran out, is there a scheme where I can buy now, pay later, or is it a case of risking death or needing A&E?

Are there any other life-saving medications you have to pay for, or is it just asthma? I know my mum gets free prescriptions because she needs thyroid medication, but that doesn't seem as serious or life-threatening as asthma to me.

What's the criteria for a medication being free, and why doesn't it seem to make sense?

It’s free for Type-1 diabetes which is absolutely nothing to do with diet.

Type-2 diabetics have to pay like everyone else.

@Wonderlandpeonytype 1 diabetes is also autoimmune!

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to high blood sugar because insulin, the hormone needed to use sugar for energy, isn't made.

NRTFT but just to say this price is now out of date.
It’s now £11.45 PCM for a pre-payment cert.

Ah fair enough. I’m not on Salbutamol and mine costs much more so I just presumed most would be in a similar ball park. I still think it’s up to individuals to prioritise their own health though. In the same way you would any other bill/ regular expense. We’re very lucky that in the case of an acute attack the nhs would provide immediate care but I think the onus should be on the individual to do everything they can to manage their condition day to day.

Only if you have the full amount up front and on a limited budget it's not always possible.

I worked out a couple of years ago that my meds would cost me £2.5k a year without my pre payment certificate!

Thank goodness for the certificate.

You can pay in 10 installments so £11.45 a month.

Type2s on insulin do not need to pay for it.

Seeing as diabetes is often caused by bad diet, yet asthma is an autoimmune condition

Never miss an opportunity to educate.

Type 1 is autoimmune. Beta cells attack insulin production so no insulin produced. Sod all to do with diet. Type 1s can eat what they want, when they want. They just need to inject insulin (or they'd die). I say 'just'....it's never just. It is a complex and exhausting condition. Never stops. 24 hours a day.

Type 2 may, in some (but by no meals all) cases be directly caused by poor lifestyle choices. Not just poor diet. Often referred to as 'insulin resistance' the body doesn't produce the amount t it needs. It can be helped with a reduced carb diet and exercise, and even pushed into 'remission'. For some, it may be necessary to inject insulin.

If you have multiple prescriptions, then for around £10 per month you can get as many prescriptions as you need.

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc

If you can’t afford £10 per month then the likelihood is you will fulfil one of the “free prescriptions” criteria.

I used to get a prepayment card every three months made it more affordable that way

Would your GP prescribe two months supply at once, so it’s cheaper. But I agree with a PP. if you are needing a whole blue inhaler every month, you need a review .

If you're on benefits you get free prescriptions. If you earn too much to get benefits then you have to budget £9.50 a month. I don't believe you can't do that.

If you are absolutely on the breadline, how do you save up enough money for a huge outlay in one go?

It isn't possible.

Think.

True, though that is far down the line for most. Metformin, Dapagafloxin and even Mounjaro are all paid-for prescriptions.

What does irk me is that some prescribed medication can be bought for pennies.

I take 8 tablets daily due to a stroke and post cancer.
I’m prescribed folic acid and aspirin as part of this, which both can be bought extremely cheaply so I don’t request them on my repeat prescription, but I could.
I do have prepayment and luckily have no money issues.
i think there has to be a change in the future which might involve some form of ‘if you can pay you should pay’ to ensure that those on lesser incomes aren’t faced with the issues the OP highlights.

(just to add I’m not a reform supporter!!!)

But something needs to be done to protect the weakest in our society, even if some of us have to pay more

You can pay for it monthly.

If type 2 diabetics are on medication for it then all their prescriptions are free.

What really bugs me about the free prescriptions if you have certain life threatening conditions thing is that those people get EVERYTHING free. So if you have a thyroid condition you not only get thyroxine free, but absolutely all your prescriptions free - antibiotics, painkillers, eczema cream - the lot.

Meanwhile if you have a condition which doesn’t meet this criteria but is equally serious - requiring anti coagulant therapy, for example - you get nothing.

Why not spread it more fairly? Let the thyroxine be free, but that person pays for other prescriptions. That would free more money to allow anti coagulant drugs to be prescribed at no cost.

This isn't correct. If you earn less than £435 per month and don't have DC or LCWRA (limited capability to work) you don't get free prescriptions. It's £935 per month if you do have DC or LCWRA on your claim

If you can't afford it then you are eligible for free prescriptions. That is how the welfare state works.

It doesn't cover the cost for people who can afford it but think it is unfair that other prescriptions are free. That is because the country is in too much debt already.

You can pay in 10 instalments, £11.45 a month.

If you're on the breadline you get benefits and get them for free? Think.

I think so too. Given that having immediate access to an asthma inhaler can be the difference between life and death for a severe asthmatic it seems bizarre that it's not on the list of free medications, yet an underactive thyroid isn't going to kill you quickly in the way an asthma attack might.

Did you miss the post by me where I pointed out it's a 5 week wait or where I pointed out how low your income has to be to get free prescriptions?

Think