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?

Well yes the same brand could make both HRT and contraceptive pills, but with differing hormone levels they are different drugs so it's not a relevant question from the pharmacist?

A pre-payment certificate costs the equivalent of £2 per week.

Nice to see there are some MNers who would be so willing and eager to defraud the NHS.

I've been taking hormones as part of fertility treatment so have been getting private prescriptions filled. A month's worth of hormone patches and injectables comes to £200+ (total medication is about £350 a month) so I am really appreciating how heavily subsidised the NHS is. My treatment is a luxury rather than life essential so I have no problem with paying, but I completely agree with your point about paying prescription charges for chronic conditions. However I also know how tight money is for the NHS. Ugh.

I'd get a Pre Pay card they save so much money! You pay X amount a year but save £100s

I use a pre pay. Very, very grateful - my weekly injections (for life) are around £70 per injection. I get 12 on prescription for less than £9
Wish they were free as I can't now have them but they're cheap!

No one has to pay £100a month for prescriptions, you can get a pre payment plan which covers all prescriptions for a monthly sum.

I don't think it's ridiculous to pay for these things, though.
You didn't pay for the GP appointment and tests, worth probably £150+ at a basic level?
You can get a prepayment cert to reduce the cost, too.
You don't pay if you're on a low income or benefits...
I'm sorry, I don't see the problem.

Doesn’t seem like much to pay unless you are struggling financially.

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

Most diabetics have other long term health problems caused by their diabetes- personally I think the ££ is worth it, most drugs cost way way more than that

And id hope those that are struggling financially are claiming at least partial or full help via the HC certificate scheme.

So many misapprehensions here. OP is making the point that from a clinical perspective, HRT isn’t optional for women experiencing premature ovarian failure/‘early menopause’. It’s not just prescribed to this cohort for protection against osteoporosis but replacement also prevents other diseases, such as heart disease, from which normal levels of oestrogen give a protective effect. In this regard, alternatives to HRT aren’t appropriate.
There is no significant increase in breast cancer risk for women experiencing early menopause who are taking HRT.
OP I’m also in your position but felt that if I can afford to pay for the medication I need to take until I reach ‘normal’ menopause age, I should do so to reduce the financial burden on the NHS.

I think the prescription charges are unfair. So I sympathise. But these are the rules so we're stuck with them.

I'm on HRT - for my menopause. I had horrendous symptoms for 3 years - dryness, rosacea, hot flushes, night sweats and more - and my Dr recommended that I stay on HRT for ever.

I certainly don't intend to go back to how I felt then - and my symptoms cleared up literally overnight. I am happy to take the tiny risk of breast cancer (no history in my family).

My dad has to pay for his heart medication that he will be on for life and keeps him alive. So yes ybu.

Sorry OP, you need to suck it up.

I have always found it outrageous that asthmatics have to pay for inhalers as well as any other asthma related medicines they need (steroids and antibiotics) yet diabetics get all prescriptions free.

Unless you are one of the people who qualifies for free prescriptions, of course you should pay.

HRT is like any other medication. And far from essential. As a PP said, it's probably cheaper than the actual cost of the medicine.

I have asthma, a lifelong condition, and have to pay for my inhalers.

I'm also on HRT, and pay a double prescription charge for that as it's 2 drugs in one box (patches) which I do think is a bit unfair, but at least I get a 3-month supply (3 boxes) in one prescription.

I'm in NI where prescriptions are free, but my understanding is that you aren't paying for the medication. You're paying the prescription charge, in all cases.

Most prescription medications will cost many times the prescription charges (pretty sure inhalers can easily be £50) and so paying the prescription charge still means you're getting the medication at a significantly reduced rate.

Completely agree with Baking, having moved from Ireland to the UK!

Yanbu, I have to pay for asthma medication which I think Is a bloody joke, because without it, I would very possible have an asthma attack and die.

My hard drinking, eating and smoking neighbour was thrilled when he was finally diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He'd wanted it badly because he now gets everything free. Nice chap but this has really put me off being friends with him. He was told it was curable/manageable through diet and lifestyle but refuses to do a thing as it's beneficial to him.

Just to add you shouldn’t be on HRT for 20 years, remember ‘normal’ menopause is around 50.

But yes I don’t think all the exemptions make sense, particularly as they get all medications free not just those related to their condition and lots of other chronic conditions are not covered.

Right! Just to recap, I assumed that people on long term illnesses did get their prescriptions for free, because my mum, who did have a long term illness did. I realise that I shouldn't have made this presumption. I certainly didn't mean that HRT users should get it for free if all other long term medication wasn't free. I realise in the scope of illnesses, what I am going through is very low down in the pecking order.
I was also surprised that because the medication has two "ingredients" as it were, it is charged double, so two prescription charges for one box of pills. But as I have said in all my previous posts, I am wrong and I am being unreasonable, and therefore I hereby swear not to complain about this any more in the future.
Now that I know that people with long term illnesses don't get their medication for free, and at the risk of opening up another can of worms, I would prefer my tax money to enable someone with some of the chronic illnesses previous posters have mentioned to get their medication for free rather than people who are on the pill. I realise that is controversial, but surely it is the only thing that is a choice and not something that life just hands you.

lucked - why shouldn't one be on HRT for 20 years? My Dr told me I could stay on it for ever, as it helps against various 'elderly' problems (thinning bones etc, not just menopause symptoms)

I am 57 and have been on HRT for 7 years.

The latest research shows the additional cancer risk from HRT is very low.

There is lots of useful information on the MN Menopause board if anyone is interested.

Unplanned pregnancies can potentially cost the government way more then giving away free birth control pills. I've always supported programs like that.

Not every prescription can be given away for free though because money doesn't grow on trees.

Illnesses such as hypothyroidism and diabetes are exempt from prescription charges because they generally lead on to other long-term severe health conditions. Asthma for example will not usually affect anything other than the lungs whereas a diabetes sufferer will almost go on to have other serious complications as a result of the diabetes. Hyperthyroidism is not exempt because it is reversible. Hypothyroidism is not reversible. You should only be charged 2 prescription charges if there are 2 separate tablets in the box (which is very common in HRT preparations) and not if it is one tablet containing 2 ingredients. In 18+ years of Pharmacy I have never seen an HRT preparation used as a contraceptive or vice versa.