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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think we shouldn't have to pay for Asthma Inhaler Prescriptions?

187 replies

MaddyHatter · 25/09/2016 23:55

Just that really.

If people with Epilepsy and Diabetes and even people with Thyroid issues and those taking the Pill don't have to pay, why do Asthma sufferers have to fork out £16 or more every couple of months for medication that can and does save our lives?

I think it contributes to the rather lackadaisical attitude towards Asthma, and just how serious a condition it is.

OP posts:
brasty · 26/09/2016 01:29

I agree that asthma is way over diagnosed. Every generation seems to have some illnesses that are way over diagnosed. When I was a child every child who had a few throat infections got their tonsils taken out. Some needed it, a lot didn't.

brasty · 26/09/2016 01:30

Some people with thyroid problems are not well controlled. They have to constantly adjust their medication. You are lucky that yours is well controlled.

Klaptout · 26/09/2016 01:32

I think life saving medicines should be accessible to everyone, it makes no sense to block people from getting medicines they really need, surely it costs more for the hospital admissions to treat people who can't pay for prescriptions for whatever reason.

The big question is where do you draw the line on what Meds come under live saving/chronic conditions.

when I did pay for prescriptions I got the card to cover me for each year, it was worth it with all my asthma and anaphylaxis stuff.
Now I have a range of health issues and get tax credits I don't pay for prescriptions.
I get through a lot of adrenaline injections, short shelf life and sometimes needing to use one then a second one very quickly. so I always try to have 6 epipens, some in the car, some in my bag, some in my house.
There was some debate about reducing the amount allowed, I can now only have 2 at a time, but I was told I could buy extra ones at £50 each. I'm sure that it costs them so much more when I need an ambulance and a hospital stay.

kormachameleon · 26/09/2016 01:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Piscivorus · 26/09/2016 01:33

Lessons The opposite side of that coin is that untreated asthma scars the lungs leading to permanent lung damage. I was always "chesty" as a child but was only diagnosed as asthmatic as an adult, by which point my lungs are permanently damaged. A friend (similar age and fitness) who was diagnosed as asthmatic as a child and prescribed inhalers from an early age has a peak flow that is around double mine

LessonsLearned · 26/09/2016 01:37

Well I'm sorry to hear that. I guess I've been lucky in that I've had it monitored really well since the diagnosis. Monthly blood tests for the first 6 months to check the levels. Awful if this is not standard care. I just assumed it was.

The NHS is in dire straits.

FeelingSmurfy · 26/09/2016 01:42

I struggle each year to pay for my prescription card, I use money given to me for my birthday to help pay for it. You would think I would be exempt anyway but I don't want to go in to that

The best case scenario if I miss just 1 day of my asthma treatment is that I end up in hospital, the more likely scenario is I end up in resus and then intensive care in hospital, the worst (and still highly likely) case scenario is that I die. That is from missing one day, just one day of my asthma medication.

The NHS can't afford for new illnesses to keep being added

I propose that things like diabetes medication are free BUT not automatic free prescriptions if you require medication for your diabetes (just using that as an example). So many people have one condition that would be covered, but also many that wouldn't and don't get me started on people who ask for a pack of paracetamol etc when they wouldn't if they were paying for their prescriptions!

So if asthma was approved and on the list it would be...
Ventolin inhaler - free
Steroids - free
Rash cream - charge
Paracetamol - charge
Seretide inhaler - free

That sort of thing would drastically reduce the amount spent on covering these illnesses now, leaving room to add in additional long-term life threatening conditions

brasty · 26/09/2016 01:44

It is standard to have it monitored frequently for 1st six months. But that still doesn't mean everyone is able to be controlled by the same steady dose of thyroxine. I don't know though if that is down to different causes for thyroid problems?

HelenaDove · 26/09/2016 01:50

£50 each!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fucking hell.

mathanxiety · 26/09/2016 02:13

Brasty and others, I hope you have some studies to back up your strange assertions about over diagnosis of asthma.

Lessons:
The trouble with asthma inhalers is that they do seems to be given out very freely these days. I have been on inhalers since childhood and do need them but I know lots of people who carry a ventolin inhaler around with them "just in case". My sister was given one because she was a bit wheezy after a lingering cold. My friend was given one because of hayfever. There is a child in my son's class who has one but doesn't need to use a preventer just has the blue one in case he gets puffed out in PE. When did this start?

Two of my DDs have exercise induced asthma, and they also suffer asthma attacks if they have a lingering winter cold, and if the air quality is poor, and in some allergy seasons - when snow melts and grass moulds begin to develop, during grass cutting season, during spring tree pollen season, ragweed season, and if exposed to some dogs.
They use their inhalers occasionally, not every day or even every week. That is what they are designed for. They are rescue inhalers. They carry their inhalers around with them 'just in case'.

This has been the protocol for occasional asthma sufferers for decades.

Like a PP upthread, I also live in a place where inhalers cost $75 a pop for generic albuterol.

Epipens are now going to set American users back $600 each time, unless they have prescription coverage. Apparently the company that makes them are offering a generic pen that will cost $300.

champersandgin · 26/09/2016 02:18

My DH has asthma. We've just moved to Canada and the equivalent to the seretide preventative inhaler he has is $189! (Approx £110). He had a payment certificate in the UK and thankfully I managed to get him 2 inhalers before I left the UK to join him.

£16 is nothing.

brasty · 26/09/2016 02:22

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35967380

This has all been very widely reported.

YellowBucket · 26/09/2016 02:27

Piscivorus you mentioned conditions such as Parkinson's, MS and MND where prescription fees still apply. I recently discovered, thanks to a lovely Locum, I could get my prescriptions issued for free as I am unable to go out alone.

www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx

Writerwannabe83 · 26/09/2016 02:58

YANBU.

What I find odd is that people who are medically exempt from paying are exempt from paying for anything and not just the medication that is on the "exemption list".

I'm on medication for my epilepsy so obviously don't have to pay for that. However, I'm also on two other medicines which generally are charged for but because my epilepsy makes me "medically exempt" I don't have to pay for those drugs either and I can't understand the logic to it - why should I get those two medications for free when they aren't related to my epilepsy?

I'm very happy to have it explained to me Smile

enolagayits0815 · 26/09/2016 03:09

Another undiagnosed asthmatic until recently, my peak flow is worse than my asthmatic daughter's and she's 12. The NHS don't prescribe inhalers as I'm managing without them.

ShtoppenDerFloppen · 26/09/2016 05:15

Where I live, unleas you have self-pay private insurance, we pay for all prescriptions. My DH was laid off with no notice 2 weeks ago.

I am not going to be able to afford my medications. I need to be sure DD has hers, and there has to be a trade-off.

honeysucklejasmine · 26/09/2016 05:39

I have thyroid "issues" too. I also have lupus, so I get those drugs for free too. I actually feel more ill more quickly from not taking lupus drugs. I can cope without thyroxine for a week or so without noticeable side effects.... although of course it's possible that the symptoms are masked by the lupus ones. I was diagnosed with them both at the same time.

I don't take other prescription medications often, but if I do I pay for them. That's easy to do of course - I just don't show my exemption card. The fee still reflects good value.

honeysucklejasmine · 26/09/2016 05:50

What I mean is, I know I am "lucky", so I try not to take the piss too much by getting my considerable pain killer purchases on prescription.

LyndaNotLinda · 26/09/2016 05:58

There's loads of chronic conditions that aren't exempt. Cystic fibrosis meds aren't either - and anyone with cf is going to die fairly fast without their drugs.

As PPs said, get an annual prepay card. It works out a lot cheaper

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 26/09/2016 06:15

Yabu I am afraid - there is not enough money sadly and asthma is no more special than any other disease Sad

Sirzy · 26/09/2016 06:20

It's a shame we can't have a system whereby medication for chronic conditions is free, medication for other things is chargable.

The current system seems to try to rank chronic conditions and that's simply not possible, nor is it fair.

Ds currently needs to take 8 medications each day, on a good day, just to maintain a basic level of stability for his asthma. As things stand at the moment his 18th birthday present will be a pre-payment certificate!

MrsCampbellBlack · 26/09/2016 06:24

It does seem odd which conditions get free prescriptions and which don't. My 12 year old has type one diabetes and of course as a child gets all prescriptions free anyway but I was told that he'll get free prescriptions for life due to his condition. Now I don't think anyone can say that really as times change.

However we self-fund some equipment for him which costs us £100 per month and I don't claim the DLA (not sure what it is called now) which we are entitled to as it doesn't feel right to me as we don't need the money.

In an ideal world any chronic condition should have free prescriptions but as others have said not sure how this would be funded.

LynetteScavo · 26/09/2016 06:43

I'm actually surprised to learn any prescriptions, other than birth control are free.

Maybe the whole system is wrong?Lots of people who can afford to pay for children don't have to. Lots of pensioners who can easily pay don't have to....then people who work full time,but are struggling to get by, do have to pay.

greenfolder · 26/09/2016 06:49

I really think that either everyone, other than low earners benefits etc should pay or no one should. If you are an adult earning a certain amount you should pay the prepayment amount of £10 per month. Some illnesses should not be seen as more worthy or serious than others and £10 per month is a bargain.