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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - Should people 60+ be means tested & pay for prescriptions

381 replies

monopoly5 · 28/01/2018 11:05

Considering the NHS is so stretched as are lots of other public services should free prescriptions for the over 60s be means tested?

I agree that the NHS is mismanaged but there is still no money. The tax paying population is shrinking & wealth is increasingly held by the older generations.

Yes there is the argument that people have paid their taxes so are entitled but I don’t believe a 20 year old of today will have any state pension/NHS available to them.

In an ideal world the 1% would be taxed more but can’t see that happening. Don’t we all need to chip in?

OP posts:
lalalalyra · 28/01/2018 21:14

How about the Scottish paying for their prescriptions?

Are you going to cut the things that are better funded in England or is it just Scottish spending priorities that should be cut?

My DD an my cousin's have the same condition. Cousin and her family get free prescriptions. My DD waited 8 months less for her consultant appointment and she sees her specialist nurse three times a year - cousin's DD doesn't have a clinic to attend.

So are we scrapping DD's clinic AND the Scottish prescriptions?

All scripts that are cheaper over the counter should be scrapped.

I think we should have something similar to a prescription whereby if your GP says you need x amount of paracetamol or y amount of whatever drug that you could pay for easily then you should have it.

When my relative had cancer she was on a high dose of paracetamol. It was the only thing that she got from the GP (cancer meds came from hospital script) because she and her husband couldn't get out to the shop several times a week to buy enough.

The restrictions are absolutely right - they've had a big impact - but something could help.

The annual/monthly pre-payment card needs to be advertised better as well.

Original poster
monopoly5 · 28/01/2018 21:16

But there are plenty of people who can pay. I don’t understand why it’s fine to increase income tax etc but older rich people should be ignore.

OP posts:
Original poster
monopoly5 · 28/01/2018 21:18

my fingers can’t type anymore. Need food.

OP posts:
Scabbersley · 28/01/2018 21:18

Increasing income tax is the fairest way to do it.

I am thoroughly looking forward to being old and rich Hmm

Ragwort · 28/01/2018 21:19

This has enlightened me, never realised that prescriptions were free for over 60s - I had assumed it would be state pension age - so for me I can get free prescriptions in a couple of months, personally that seems crazy as both DH and I are in work and can afford to pay.

But I agree that administering some form of 'means testing' would be incredibly difficult, my DPs are 'well off' pensioners and my 87 year old DDad has tried to pay for his prescriptions Grin - he can absolutely afford to pay and wants to but was told there was no way he could pay 'into' the NHS - in the end it was suggested he gave money to the Friends of the Hospital charity.

MorningstarMoon · 28/01/2018 21:23

I would rather allow the over 60s to have free prescription that the absolute bell end who is clogging up the NHS with their drunk ass! Swings and roundabouts.

Tapandgo · 28/01/2018 21:26

OP
Older people PST tax too. Tax on pension, tax on savings and tax on purchases.

Chocolatesprinkledcrumpet · 28/01/2018 21:31

How about ceasing the payments of public money to afford inquiries upon inquiries into why the NHS isn't working instead of paying a lot less to get things done properly, ie staffing levels? How about telling the pharmacy industry to sod off, create one nationalised pharmaceutical company and save millions upon millions in tithes and patents? How about giving the lawyer sharks their marching orders so a) medics can focus on medicine and not covering for every legal outcome and b) (this doesn't include genuine compensations) certain leeches can go find a useful employment? How about sorting out Scandinavian type of revalidation and save millions in useless bureocratic mount Everest that is our current revalidation? How about liberating the healthcare from being an electional hostage and allowing it to do what it's meant to? Sounds like it would be a lot more feasible that turning pensioners upside down and shaking them for the small change in their pockets.

And breathe...

Lilmisskittykat · 28/01/2018 21:31

I think there are other things that the nhs should look at before worrying about over 60s free prescriptions as a saving.

Original poster
monopoly5 · 28/01/2018 21:31

Yes they do. The fact remains that we have a shrinking tax paying population who will shrink further.

OP posts:
Original poster
monopoly5 · 28/01/2018 21:34

Chocolatesprinkledcrumpet
Well yes you are right but the government/future governments won’t be interested in doing any of that.

OP posts:
Mum2jenny · 28/01/2018 21:34

Given that many people get free prescriptions already for many reasons, maybe prescriptions should be free (less cost checking if people are claiming falsely), but GP appointments should be charged at a nominal cost, say £10, but double this if appointments are missed. And those that can't be arsed turning up for prebooked appointments are charged double....would cut down GPs workload and improve access for those that need appointments.

Chocolatesprinkledcrumpet · 28/01/2018 21:56

@monopoly5

"The government will never do anything about it"

Of course they wouldn't when the people who elect them choose to pick amongst themselves who gets thrown off the lifeboat rather than giving them the sack and keep doing that until someone elected actually does the job that they are elected to do.

Because why would they, when watching us have a go at each other is so much more easier and fun...

MikeAlphaMikeAlpha · 28/01/2018 22:43

Here's my 2 penny's worth
-I think there should be a way for you to voluntarily make a contribution for your doctors appointment or hospital stay. Like the pdsa

  • I think everyone in the uk should pay the same rate for prescriptions no freebies unless you're under 18, on benefits, disabled or elderly
  • I think people who miss appointments should be charged £10 and named and shamed
  • I think people who go to the doctors for colds and coughs they haven't had for 3 weeks should be charged

We forget how good the nhs is, travel around the world and you see that £8 is not a lot to pay for medicine but be sensible and buy 26p paracetamol from ASDA rather than waste appointments just to get it free. Look after it and it might last, continue to abuse it and it will collapse!

saladdays66 · 28/01/2018 22:44

By your argument, everyone should be means tested before they get free prescriptions.

Why pick on over-60s? They have paid more tax than you have!

Why not means test rich parents? Why should their dc get free prescriptions?

bananafish81 · 29/01/2018 00:21

I have multiple scripts every month so I used to have an annual PPC

When I got diagnosed with epilepsy I was then eligible for a medical exemption certificate. As PP have said, this then means I don't need to pay for ANY of my scripts, even though only one of them is epilepsy related

This thread is certainly giving me pause for reflection that the decent thing to do would be to get a PPC and continue to pay for my scripts that way instead of using the exemption certificate

Then I remember that I see a private consultant neurologist and have never taken any NHS resources for my epilepsy investigations; and also had my miscarriage surgeries privately. I figure that the money saved by not having had these done on the NHS probably outweighs the £100 annually that I'm not spending on a PPC if I continue to use the exemption certificate!

lalalalyra · 29/01/2018 00:30

When I got diagnosed with epilepsy I was then eligible for a medical exemption certificate. As PP have said, this then means I don't need to pay for ANY of my scripts, even though only one of them is epilepsy related

It would cost far far more than it saved to have a system whereby people got exemptions for certain things.

And there's also the question of what is related and what's not. Does a long term condition that leaves you slightly more prone to being ill mean antibiotics for tonsillitis or a cheat infection are covered?

bananafish81 · 29/01/2018 00:36

It would cost far far more than it saved to have a system whereby people got exemptions for certain things.

Yes I've read the thread and I'm well aware of this

I'm responding with a query about whether it would be the morally right thing to do to NOT avail myself of this option, and to continue to pay for my prescriptions using a PPC ie essentially implement my own means testing. If I can afford to pay, is it right for me to choose to get my scripts for free?

Tanith · 29/01/2018 08:46

"They do mention free a lot."

And they've been slapped on the wrist for doing so.

www.theguardian.com/money/2017/dec/03/free-childcare-claim-withdrawn-advertising-watchdog

WhiteWalkersWife · 29/01/2018 09:03

No id start recouping costs ftom those who missed appointments for no reason and those who are violent or abusive to frontline staff. Id also like prescriptions only to be given to adults for things which cost the price or more. Ive seen some friends given prescriptions for stuff cheaper over the counter.

Scabbersley · 29/01/2018 09:13

No tanith, they were slapped on the wrist by making it sound as though it was all year round.

Spikeyball · 29/01/2018 09:24

"Ive seen some friends given prescriptions for stuff cheaper over the counter."

You need prescriptions for some over the counter stuff because you cannot buy it over the counter in the quantity you need.

Many schools will only administer paracetamol ( which some children need on a regular basis) if it is in a prescribed bottle.

magpiemischief · 29/01/2018 10:02

I think the NHS should be completely free.. I actually think all prescriptions should be free too. All paid for by taxes and NI. All these different charges is just like privatisation by degrees.

Why do people consider taxation and NI contributions an 'unfair' way to pay for the NHS? Taxes are the fairest way to ensure charges are affordable. Why not change the tax / NI laws if there is any unfairness? Why penalise sick and disabled people?

Scabbersley · 29/01/2018 10:58

I think there should be a means tested 100 per annum threshold for everyone. Pay for everything until it reaches £100 then everything after that is free.

Gilead · 29/01/2018 11:19

“If people have to pay for their prescriptions, they won’t pay, then they’ll get more sick and cost the NHS more” argument - people need to take some personal responsibility for themselves.
Hmm, feed my children or get my medication...
but GP appointments should be charged at a nominal cost, say £10
Same applies.
Equally for those of us with long term health conditions, sometimes I need to go three to four times a month to have blood levels etc checked. I cannot afford that amount of money, neither can a lot of folk.