To think the NHS medical exemption is not very fair?

[user87382294757]

DH has crohns disease. Needs regular prescriptions and bloods, has an IBD nurse etc.

Advised some conditions can exempt you from prescription charges and checked the list. It says-

You can get all your NHS prescriptions free if you have a valid medical exemption certificate because you have:
• a permanent fistula (for example, caecostomy, colostomy, laryngos-tomy or ileostomy) which needs
continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;
• a form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison’s Disease) for which specific substitution therapy is
essential;
• diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism;
• diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone;
• hypoparathyroidism;
• myasthenia gravis;
• myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism which needs thyroid hormone replacement);
• epilepsy which needs continuous anticonvulsive therapy;
• a continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person; or
• cancer and are undergoing treatment for:
– cancer;
– the effects of cancer; or,
– the effects of cancer treatment.

Why these conditions and not others? It seems unfair that someone with diabetes type 2 (which is often self induced through diet and lack of exercise) can get these for free and others with other chronic illnesses cannot?

I'm cross that it seems a selective few illness have been given more priority than others for this. AIBU?

It's known that it's inconsistent and unfair. There's a split on whether it should be fixed by making all prescriptions free or not having any exemptions.

• making all prescriptions free doesn't actually add significantly to the drug budget. So much of the budget is exempted anyway (over 60s get free prescriptions) that the prescription charge basically just covers the admin.
• Tories are ideologically opposed to that and want to charge sick pick money even if it doesn't actually save any money.

I think it would cost quite a bit to adjudicate what was related (not in cause, but in bodily effect) and have those results readily available. So you’d also need a good refund system for any that later were adjudged to be wrongly charged.

Given that only about 10% of the population pay for prescriptions anyhow, I’m not sure making the system more complex would be good VFM

I’m free, and as my cancer is of the blood (and therefore immune system) I think I’d remain free across the board (even painkillers are non-standard for me as there are metabolic and drug interactions making it ever more complex). But how would you sort out what’s attributed to what in less clear-cut cases?

Because diabetes will kill you without treatment. Hth!

As could a host of other diseases too that aren't included on the exemption list.

I too have Crohn's. Suffered a massive internal haemorrhage a few months ago, that could have killed me, plus has led to heart failure that could kill me.

I still don't qualify for free prescriptions. Hth.

I don’t pay as I have type 1 diabetes, due to this I am more likely to get infections etc so I am more likely to require prescribed medication.

If someone is a low earner they can get help with the costs of prescription rather than paying £2 a week for a pre-payment certificate.

@iVampire

Given that only about 10% of the population pay for prescriptions anyhow, I’m not sure making the system more complex would be good.

Only 10% of the population pay prescription charges? Where did you get THAT statistic from?

As an example - my DH is type 1 diabetic, this means his immune system is lowered so can catch all sorts. He would get free antibiotics for example because the diabetes means he is likely to get more ill without them

But I have to take immunosuppressants which lower my immune system which means that I can catch all sorts. I don't qualify for free antibiotics.

At what point does my lowered immune system and your husband's differ?

because diabetes will kill you without treatment HTH

So could asthma but that's not on the list. There have been times in the past where, when my asthma has been at its worst, I've been prescribed 2 inhalers, antibiotics for a chest infection and steroids and this costs close to £40 now. Sometimes I wouldn't be able to afford this - yet for having my preventer inhaler and a ventolin prescribed the rest of the time, it's not worth me getting a pre payment certificate. I've always thought asthma should be included.

@bellagood

www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/prescription-charge-overhaul-would-raise-1bn-a-year-for-nhs-says-think-tank/20066348.article?firstPass=false

Im also exempt but get all prescriptins free for other treatments and i dont even think its fair

Slightly more recent statistic below. Six out of 10 prescriptions are for elderly people, who don't pay. So 90% isn't an entirely unbelievable figure, the other 3 out of 10 will likely be children and those with medical/benefit exemption.

Glitter if you get 2 items every month it's absolutely worth getting a PPC.

OP does DH claim PIP? I'm asking as that may offset the cost of the PPC and make it more affordable (as well as covering travel costs etc etc etc)

Do you know how difficult it is to qualify for PIP?

I have Crohn's disease, plus enteropathic arthritis caused by Crohn's disease plus now heart failure. I'm still too well to be able to claim PIP.

Anyone that I know who does claim it is telling me to exaggerate my symptoms but I'm not prepared to do that and face living my life constantly looking over my shoulder.

I heard a woman sometime ago in boots trying to pay for her prescription-pharmiscist says but youre exempt and the woman said but i have the money i dont want it free-and they said they literally couldnt take her money to pay for it-its insane

The Government itself have disclosed that 90% of prescriptions are supplied free

Prescription charges

We have increased the prescription charge by 20 pence from £8.20 to £8.40 for each medicine or appliance dispensed. 90% of prescription items are dispensed free, and this will remain the case. To ensure that those with the greatest need, and who are not already exempt from the charge, are protected we have frozen the cost of the prescription prepayment certificates (PPC) for another year. The 3 month PPC remains at £29.10 and the cost of the annual PPC will stay at £104. Taken together, this means prescription charge income is expected to rise broadly in line with inflation.

Given that only about 10% of the population pay for prescriptions anyhow

What was that saying about a lie being halfway around the world while the truth is getting it's boots on ? OK, a 5 year old figure may not be a lie, but it can change a hell of a lot. Todays not my Google day, so it would be nice if anyone else who wants to quote that figure could provide a 2017-2018 cite ?

Thanks @TitOfTheIceberg I am shocked, because most people I know pay for prescriptions! (AFAIK.)

So 40% are supposed to pay, but only 10% do.

The think tank notes that while 40% of the population are liable to pay the prescription charge, in practice 90.6% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge.

That bit confuses me! Why are the other 30% not paying?

Sorry I know I sound thick!

diabetes type 2 (which is often self induced through diet and lack of exercise) can get these for free

Except that if the doctors think the insulin resistance can be reversed by regular exercise and low carbing that's what the treatment will be first and they will be excluded from the list: You even wrote this in your OP
diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone

I have asthma now and have had GD in the past - asthma scares the hell out of me tbh but I don't begrudge diabetics being on that list.

@StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff my primary illness is neutropenia so my immune system is fucked because I kill off my own neutrophils which makes me really likely to get infections or neutropenic sepsis. Yet I have to pay for antibiotics and drugs to make me less likely to get sepsis

That bit confuses me! Why are the other 30% not paying?

Because they are not actually needing any prescription meds

I was initially surprised too bella, but then I realised that in my immediate family I am the only person who pays; everyone else is exempt on either age grounds or because they have an illness on the list. I'm not sure about the rogue 30% TBH.

PeoniesarePink - exactly. I am fit and healthy but because I have hypothryoid and antibodies I am also likely to get type 2 diabetes. It is primarily an autoimmune disease. The ‘lifestyle component’ only really kicks in at BMI 35-40 and even then can often be reversed through diet changes.

Sorry to correct you but Type 1 diabetes and LADA are autoimmune diseases, type 2 is not (although plenty of cases are not caused by diet and lifestyle either - one of the fittest, healthiest people I know has type 2).

I'm not saying my DH is more deserving!

I totally agree it's a flawed system.

My point was aimed at the posters saying that only the medication directly related to the condition should be free.

I agree that it's unfair. I have an exemption certificate due to having hypothyroidism which I was diagnosed with 2 years ago BUT I have been quite severely asthmatic my whole life - if I didn't take inhalers 2-3 times a day I would not be able to breathe so why is this not included on an exemption?

I was once told because such a high number of people are asthmatic it would cost the NHS too much!

The Government itself have disclosed that 90% of prescriptions are supplied free

Unfortunately I'd prefer a source I can trust.

@DGRossetti Given how incremental health-related change tends to be at a population level, I wouldn't expect the picture to be hugely different five years on.