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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how people afford prescription charges?

113 replies

fuckedandbombed · 04/07/2021 17:59

I live alone and work full time but money is tight for now.

I have been on antidepressants for a couple of years so was costing me the £10 a month charge.

Recently my gp has bit me on blood pressure tablets and vitamin b12 as well

I've left it to get the prescription because I simply can't afford £30 a month .

I need the meds , but just can't afford them . Is there any alternative to paying £30 a month ?

OP posts:
KeyWorker · 04/07/2021 22:03

The yearly pre-payment certificate is £10 something per month. You can get a 3 month one as a one off or yearly. My DH has 3 different regular prescriptions as it saves us a fortune

bruffin · 04/07/2021 22:16

@FindingMeno

I hear you. I decide what I do and don't need. Don't have some, and delay others.
Maybe read the thread, nobody has to do this. The most you have to pay is £10 a month
SnowmenHaveFunnyNoses · 04/07/2021 22:19

@WantingToWonder

Yep. Prepay certificate or get Epilepsy Grin
Not funny 🤬 I have epilepsy (I assume you or a loved one does too) and I’d give up my free prescriptions in a heartbeat to not have this god awful condition. Not something to joke about.
FindingMeno · 04/07/2021 22:22

@bruffin ahh!
Thank you. Next time I will read the thread (she fibs) as I see I'm being a plonker Blush

Eleoura · 04/07/2021 22:26

If your Vit B12 deficiency is severe, you would normally have an injection every 3mths of so at your GP surgery. If not so severe, and depending on the dose, you can buy Vit B12 tablets at lidl, tescos, asda, boots etc for about £2 a month.

MissBridgetJones · 04/07/2021 22:35

Quick question, are you having to have a consultation with your GP monthly in order to get the prescription? If not, then there is no reason to not give you a scrip for 3 months at a time.

I have two long term prescriptions (one for anxiety) and after initial period on both I went ro 3 month supply.

It sounds like the pre-payment will work for you best if your GP digs their heels on monthly supply.

XenoBitch · 04/07/2021 22:39

I don't know of anyone ever paying full whack for prescriptions, unless you very rarely have one, so pointless getting a prepayment card thing. I am on 5 different meds, and only allowed 7 days at a time, so paying out for them would cost a fortune!

beigebrownblue · 04/07/2021 22:44

The long term solution or short term solution is
to get rid of the Eton Boys.

i.e. Boris and co.

They have no idea what public health is, what the average person needs. What people in work shouldn't have to worry about.

And now they are considering delaying prescription charges for pensioners and selling what is left of the NHS off.

In a global pandemic, whch we are still in.

Thinking of you.

You shouldn't have to worry about this, I'm so sorry.

FlyingBattie · 04/07/2021 22:44

Now you need more items, definitely look into a pre-payment. The direct debit option is probably best, because otherwise the outlay is huge!

ChickenSchnitzel · 04/07/2021 22:47

Grateful I live in Scotland, free prescriptions, free eye tests, free dental check ups.

How does the UK government except people to afford this?

FlyingBattie · 04/07/2021 22:49

@ChickenSchnitzel

Grateful I live in Scotland, free prescriptions, free eye tests, free dental check ups.

How does the UK government except people to afford this?

They probably don't care. Not like they have to think about it themselves, why would they care? They don't care about people who can't afford rent/mortgages either. Or who can't afford to feed their kids. Totally out of their world experience.
Marguerite2000 · 04/07/2021 22:50

@beigebrownblue

The long term solution or short term solution is to get rid of the Eton Boys.

i.e. Boris and co.

They have no idea what public health is, what the average person needs. What people in work shouldn't have to worry about.

And now they are considering delaying prescription charges for pensioners and selling what is left of the NHS off.

In a global pandemic, whch we are still in.

Thinking of you.

You shouldn't have to worry about this, I'm so sorry.

She doesn't have to worry about it, she can get a prepayment certificate like other people.
Marguerite2000 · 04/07/2021 22:51

@ChickenSchnitzel

Grateful I live in Scotland, free prescriptions, free eye tests, free dental check ups.

How does the UK government except people to afford this?

What, a tenner a month?
missymousey · 04/07/2021 22:52

Move to Scotland, it's lovely here 🙂.

I suppose that's not very helpful though. I hope you get it sorted OP, that pre-payment thing sounds like the answer.

Yubaba · 04/07/2021 22:54

All the people saying ask for 2 or 3 months at a time, our CCG policy is one month only for all medications, the only exception being the pill and HRT, so none of our GPs would give more than one month at a time.
You could get a prepayment certificate and also look into the HC2 certificate, I always recommend people apply for one, the worst that could happen is they say no.
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme

2bazookas · 04/07/2021 22:57

Buy a one-year prepayment certificate, costs £108 and that covers ALL prescription costs. You can pay for it monthly by direct debit. Your GP has details or look online.

NeverEnoughCake2 · 04/07/2021 23:02

Another issue with the advice to ask for 2 or 3 months at a time: Some ADs have more potential for harm than others if someone deliberately takes too many. I can only get a month at a time of the one I'm currently on as that's recommended good practice for prescribing this particular drug.

Nameisjustaname · 04/07/2021 23:02

Just to add.. we found out that a prepaid card could be backdated which was great when dh had to get a few things prescribed in a short period of time.

NeverEnoughCake2 · 04/07/2021 23:03

I should add that I'm currently completely well and taking the ADs to prevent any further depressive episodes, but that's still the policy

FlyingBattie · 04/07/2021 23:13

Marguerite2000 strangely enough some people really can't manage a tenner a month, especially at the moment.

bruffin · 05/07/2021 06:55

@FlyingBattie

Marguerite2000 strangely enough some people really can't manage a tenner a month, especially at the moment.
Except op is already paying for one prescription a month, the PPC is pennies more
ErrolTheDragon · 05/07/2021 07:27

I was thinking of what exemptions there were and that was the only one I could think of.

Certain conditions qualify for exemption. It's a bit of an anachronistic list of 'lifelong' conditions - the commonest probably being hypothyroidism. DH and I both have it now. (We're also over 60 at which point prescriptions are free anyway fwiw)

bruffin · 05/07/2021 07:42

Op hasnt come back and ignored the ppc posts , so suspect ddidnt get what they wanted from this threadHmm

At least ive learnt DH will get free prescriptions this yearGrin

BusyLizzie61 · 05/07/2021 07:51

@fuckedandbombed

Thanks

I asked to get more than one months ad but they won't do it at my gps . It's got to be monthly .

I pay for an annual card. Works out at about £10 a month which would benefit you. You can order online.