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

[monopoly5]

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?

Has anyone pointed out that these are the people who "fought in World War Two" yet ;)

I think the free prescription scheme needs to be looked at more generally. I have a medical condition that qualifies me for free prescriptions, even those that have nothing to do with that condition. Perhaps look at a way that drugs for certain medical conditions are free but you have to pay for the rest?

And don’t get me started that people working past state pension age don’t have to pay national insurance on their salary. That’s something that needs to be stopped as it’s unfair that a 67 year old could effectively be earning 12% more for the same job as a younger person (even if they paid a lower rate to reflect that they aren’t paying in for state pension that would help)

Please bear in mind that those of us with disabilities AND unable to work have limited means. My prescriptions would cost me around £77.00 per month, equalling some 19.50 per week. That's a significant sum for someone in receipt of benefits.

So stuff your "baby boomers are all rich and entitled" attitude OP and go pick on someone else

Ok, glad we can have a reasonable debate.

Stealth Clearly we can see why 🤣

Guts rather than guys sorry.

@Eilalila, I don't really think that at all actually - though having driven through my town centre several times on a weekend evening recently you would be forgiven for thinking that there was a curfew out on anyone over 25 -- but the OP specifically mentioned 20 year olds.

I do agree that some people take the piss with free stuff, I was recently told to take aspirin, so I bought some across the counter for pennies, the pharmacist said but it's on your prescription.......

My pharmacist/GP have a free basic on demand system for people on low incomes, which is fair enough, the idea is it stops people using a doctors appointment for minor stuff, but I am sometimes amazed at hearing people argue the toss about what they think they should be getting for free that isn't on the list.

Gilead there is a prepaid prescription card which is just over £10 per month.

SmilingButClueless Wow I didn’t know that re NI.

Gilead - I'm not suggesting you should pay but your figures are wrong as you could get a pre-pay certificate for £104 per year (which can be paid in 10 interest free instalments over the year if you couldn't afford that all at once.)

I am being very reasonable...I assert that your opening statement was the unreasonable bit!

MN has a reputation for disliking anyone over 50. I could just as easily say that the under 30s should pay more as they have so much longer to make up any shortfall in their pensions etc. But I won't because it is clearly unfair. Everyone pays tax on their incomes.

Why not just tax the rich?

To get a pre pay certificate, you need to know you are going to be ill.

Why not just tax the rich?

Well yes as I mentioned in my “opening statement” ideally the rich should pay more. However that doesn’t tend to raise much more revenue & it’s the people below who pay more, they don’t have the option of living in another country, offshore accounts etc.

The free calpol/paracetamol /ibuprofen should be abolished. Otc medication should not be prescribed, buying 100 paracetamol in a supermarket costs about £1.60 but getting it on prescription costs close to £10 iirc. That would be a huge saving. To get around the maximum of two packets at a time there should be a system where if you need to take paracetamol regularly then you get a card/letter from the gp when they'd be giving you the first prescription for it which allows you to buy 100 tablets at a time.

For those saying older people are more likely to need multiple items per month, the maximum they'd need to pay is £10.40 per month for 10 months out of 12 for a pre payment card.

Smilingbutclueless why in the world should people who have already paid their full contributions have to continue to pay NI if they are continuing to work?

Will you continue to make mortgage payments when your mortgage is finished? Do you pay a bit extra each month on your credit card? Do you slip Tescos or Sainsburys an extra fiver when you do your weekly shop?

Confused I can only assume you know nothing whatsoever about drug treatment and its implications for other societal issues.

crunchy you could just apply for the pre payment certificate when you are first put on long term medication. You'd need to pay for the initial prescription but you can ask for a form at the same time detailing the amount you've paid and send it off with the pre payment certificate application and get the money for the prescription back.

Well a lot of over 60s are still working full time, I imagine my generation will be working into their 70s. It probably should be means tested as there's a lot of variation in income for over 60s and some probably don't need the help.

Yes, they should. Obviously?

Means testing will stop many people claiming. So they will not get their prescriptions due to cost. So their conditions will become worse and they will end up needing hospitalisation. Not cheaper

This sort of apathetic approach towards ones own health maintainence is what's landed the NHS in its current state. Let them pay for a stay in a hospital, too, then.

The faster we can transition to a hybrid system, the better.

What viques said. What a narrow-minded, bigoted post OP. But it's Sunday and there isn't much to do perhaps?

If you don't care about the elderly (of which I am not one), then I don't care about your kids. How do you like them apples?

Why not question were the NEW sources it's medications from and why we allow such mark-ups on prescription drugs?

The NHS is skint because it isn't being funded, every senior Doctor etc is stating this. Money is being wasted, contracts being given to friends and not to benefit the tax payer.

We wouldn't save much by means testing because that is an expensive system to administer.

All these suggestions are going to change the Ethos of the NHS and that is a dangerous step to take.

We piss away Billions as a Country on Nothing, but it gives 'jobs for the boys'. Why exactly do we need another Channel route, but not the NHS?

Why has building new public buildings and their maintenance, including hospitals cost us Billions more than it should? I'm in Liverpool so we've been hit hard by the collapse of Carillion.

We are about to get £350 million a week to spend on our NHS post brexit, so what's the issue

yes, let's punish people who are paying tax and contributing, let's punish people who have paid all their life, because that's fair and that will work.

Hopefully we will drop that mean-testing discrimination nonsense and start charging people equally. It has proven that it's a system much more efficient and giving much better results.

I'd want to know if it would save any money first. I'm certainly not willing to support means testing if it's a net loss. There might be an argument for raising the age of eligibility to save but I doubt it would bring in much more to means test 80 year olds.

"Let them pay for a stay in a hospital, too, then. "

So as well as removing the NHS Ethos, we are getting rid of our Social and Community Care Acts?

There are enough countries that you can live in and live like Royalty with UK qualifications, whilst people die in the streets, without wanting to drag the UK back to that.

where do other posters think the money needed should come from?

We spend 61 billion on obesity related illness every year. If we all took some personal responsibility the NHS wouldn't be in the state it is.

I also agree that we should bring free prescription age in line with the retirement age.
We should also stop free prescriptions from hospitals. I recently had surgery and was given three medications free when I left.
Why? I can afford to pay.

What viques said. What a narrow-minded, bigoted post OP. But it's Sunday and there isn't much to do perhaps

I asked a question, I then also said prescriptions for kids & maternity should be means tested.

You don’t need to worry about my children, they will be fine. Doesn’t mean I don’t worry for other children though.