AIBU to think you shouldn't have to pay for that?

[vapourtrail]

I am in my early forties and after going through all the symptoms I recently went to the doctor for a blood test and was told that I was experiencing early menopause.
I was upset enough at this news as it was, then the Dr said that I would have to go on HRT as I would need the extra oestrogen for healthy bones. She said it wasn't really an option for someone in my position, going through it so early. I have no problems with this, and would actually welcome some hormones in my life. So off I went with my prescription.
At the chemist the pharmacist asked me if I was taking it for contraceptive or HRT and I said HRT. She said, ok if it was for contraceptive it would be free but for HRT I would have to pay for it. Am I BU for thinking that it should be free? I am going to have to be on this for maybe the next 20 years. If I was using it for sex, which, let's face it, is a choice, it would be free. But if I take it to stop my bones crumbling away then it isn't! And to top it all the pharmacist told me that it actually counted as a double prescription so charged my £17 for it!!
If this was a male thing I am sure this wouldn't be the case which makes me all as it feels like another woman tax. Aibu?

YABU. Personally I wouldn't take HRT, just not worth the, however small, increased breast cancer risk. I'd do more research into it, OP, experiencing menopause in your early 40s isn't that early.

Elton I would have loved more children but sadly that wasn't to be! Golden apparently the prescription form has to be marked with CC on it to get it for free and mine isn't. I am shocked that your brother has to pay Cornishclio, I had cancer when I was younger (the cause of the early menopause!!) and during that time I didn't have to pay for my medication. So I did just think that for chronic illnesses or life long conditions were exempt. So I apologise for my naivety, I can see that others are in much worse conditions, so I will be thankful!

cornish ,hypothyroidism makes you medically exempt .

DO NOT go to another chemist and lie ffs.

What is wrong with people?! That’s fraud and you can be caught and fined.

Yabu.. I have to pay for my gastric ulcer medication that if I left untreated would potentially be life threatening.
You will onky be taking hrt until your 50, to protect your bones, then it is a choice as opposed to advised.
Your bones won't crumble if you choose not to take it, there are plenty of lifestyle choices you can make to protect bones.
I had early menopause at 44 and chose not to take hrt.
I took up running, lost weight, ensure optimum levels of vital d and calcium in my diet and do weights, strength training exercises twice a week.
Recent bone scan was excellent

I am asthmatic (so need preventer and reliever inhalers) and also have depression. I can only get my prescriptions filled every 28 days. So that's 36 prescription fees a year. I save money by having a pre-payment certificate, paid by direct debit, but it is crazy that I need these drugs to survive.

It's a bit odd actually, because I though the rationale for thyroid medication/insulin being exempt from charges was because it was hormone replacement rather than a drug. You'd expect therefore that HRT given before normal menopause age should be treated the same way.

Get a pre-payment certificate. I have one because I'm on long-term anti-depressants and mood stabilisers.

Very few conditions/groups of people are entitled to free prescriptions. Even then £8.60 per script is quite good value. I was told that the private healthcare cost for one of my meds is actually £45 per script, so the NHS is subsidising it heavily!

My thyroid medication is free and I'm 3. all my prescriptions are free because of this

I'm 38 not 3 lol

The exemption for thyroid treatment is (I'm told) a historical anomaly, but the government hasn't the stomach for revising it. I had to pay for my cancer meds, pay for blood pressure meds, but now I need thyroid meds it's free . Still, every cloud......

What I object to is that someone who is diabetic for example, gets all their medication free not just the diabetic associated ones.

The exemption for thyroid treatment is (I'm told) a historical anomaly, but the government hasn't the stomach for revising it.

I don't understand why they don't change it so that thyroid medication is exempt but other items attract a prescription charge. (I get all my prescriptions free due to hypothyroidism)

Be thankful that you don’t live in Ireland. We have to pay for all prescriptions, at extortionate prices (my friend pays €60 a month for her HRT meds, this would be the norm. My DB had a kidney transplant and is on live-long medication, he pays about €200 a month) plus we’re charged between €55 to €90 for every GP visit. On top of that, we still have the same issues as the NHS with over crowding and lack of beds in hospitals and waiting months (sometimes years) for operation dateS - sometimes even when going private.
I used to live in Scotland. I miss the NHS so much. Honestly, a lot of UK residents don’t realise how good they have it.

I agree soul, it's very odd. What's more my pharmacist told me it applies to a diagnosis of hypOthyroidism but not hypERthyroidism, which seems even more unfair.

In this instance I'm benefitting, I don't have to buy an annual prepayment card anymore, but for many years I paid for meds that I needed for equally serious conditions. Like I say, an anomaly.....

if you aren't suffering horrendous menopausal symptoms then you don't need it, you can protect your bones in other ways.

I'm a bit bemused by the HRT/contraception conflation as well - which hrt have you been prescribed? Mine has all over the leaflets that it is not a contraceptive and the gps keep asking me what contraceptive I use because the hrt isn't a contraceptive etc etc.
It is annoying that it's a double charge, it's one medication in one blister pack but because it has two hormones in it's charged double? Don't understand that myself.
I'm early 40s and also taking hrt to protect against osteoporosis, it just replaces hormones you should have naturally had.

This doesn't apply in the OP's case but for others you might be pleased to know that free prescriptions ARE available for some conditions, including cancer, as per the following link
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/medical-exemption-certificates

HRT isn’t a contraceptive and can’t be used as such. Odd question for the pharmacy to ask IMHO. That aside, as PPs point out YABU, lots of people have long term meds they have to pay prescription charges for.

(Except in Wales, where there are no prescription charges 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿)

Nobody gets prescription medicine for fun- everyone is treating complaints they don't want.

Yes, my DH has paid for his blood pressure medications for 24 years

I've got an annual prepayment for my meds which is £104 and isn't going up in April with the single item increase. Remember that'll cover you for all medications you need over the twelve months.

My dgd reaches 18 this year and has Cystic Fibrosis. She is in hospital as we speak with lowered lung capacity due to an infection,which happens at least once a year. She will have to pay over £100 per month after her birthday yet she could not survive without all the drugs and inhalers and digestive tablets (CF sufferers can't digest fat so have to take enzyme tablets to eat a normal diet) When she has an infection she's on even more drugs. She also has to have a nebuliser at home and oxygen tanks. It is try ridiculous and there is an online campaign going on atm

truly ridiculous, not try

Strax about the HRT / contraception thing, could it be that the brand make for both things and it is just the hormone levels in each is slightly different. I don't think the pharmacist should have asked me that to be honest. And yes, it is double the normal prescription charge because there are two hormones in every pill so it is charged individually. Any way, IABU, I was basing my thinking on the experience that my mum and I had (which I realise is a very limited sample pool to be basing a belief system on!) and I realise that there are much worse positions to be in. Thanks to all those who suggested getting the card, I will definitely look into that!