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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Prescription charges for over 60s

293 replies

herewegogc · 09/08/2021 06:53

Just found out that there is a government consultation going on about this. The aim is to raise the age for free prescriptions to the state pension age. Ends on 1st September. AIBU to be unhappy that this is being done by stealth? Or have I missed the massive publicity campaign? Fill in the consultation here: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/aligning-the-upper-age-for-nhs-prescription-charge-exemptions-with-the-state-pension-age

OP posts:
nokidshere · 09/08/2021 14:00

@rottd when I was working in my 20/30/40 with plenty of disposable income, no children, no responsibility, I really didn't 'miss' 15 quid here, 20 quid there to be honest. It's not like any single sum was more than about £30. I only started thinking about how many prescriptions and the costs I've paid over the years when I realised I wouldn't have to pay them anymore.

campion · 09/08/2021 14:49

The state pension - with a minimum of 35 years contributions

And if you've been contracted out you may need to make up the difference to get the maximum state pension despite 35+years.

Binnaggy · 09/08/2021 15:57

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Nsky · 09/08/2021 16:10

59 and pre payment certificate, which is to me affordable.
I’m not surprised they are doing this as pension ages up.
Those in need will hopefully qualify in benefit terms

Blossomtoes · 09/08/2021 16:17

Lots of stay at home parents don’t realise that they don’t have the necessary contributions

They get credits if they claim child benefit which is why it’s worth doing even if your income means it has to be repaid.

rottd · 09/08/2021 16:31

Yes, and you can only back-pay your NI contributions for the past 6 years.

Don't do what I did though & pay it for the few years I had gaps but then realised that there was no way I would be stopping work at 52, doh!

RoseAndRose · 09/08/2021 16:39

@Blossomtoes

Lots of stay at home parents don’t realise that they don’t have the necessary contributions

They get credits if they claim child benefit which is why it’s worth doing even if your income means it has to be repaid.

Only until your DC reaches secondary school age

But yes, claiming CB for the NI credit is definitely worth it

LakieLady · 09/08/2021 16:50

@SquirmOfEels

They were talking about changing the London scheme in line with state pension age, but it went quiet. I can't remember why it was shelved, but it has been.

It's London council tax payers who fund the scheme, so perhaps if people in other parts of the country want similar, they could turn it into a local electoral issue?

No point, as there's no money to fund it now that the government grant to councils is being cut to the bone (£16bn cut over the last 10 years) and there's a cap on how much they can increase council tax,

Councils are barely able to provide the statutory minimum service in many areas. There's bugger all money for any extras.

DerAlteMann · 09/08/2021 16:54

@MadisonAvenue

I’ve filled it out, it’s particularly unfair when other home nations don’t charge at all.
If England had a population as small as the other home nations maybe prescriptions could be free in England too.
Daphnise · 09/08/2021 16:56

Thanks for giving the link to the consultation.

Prescription charges are too high, and of more people are going to have to pay them, then the charge should be reduced- obviously not to the level no that extra money would be made.

We are all paying for the NHS already, and some have not had much of a service during the last 18 months.

Blossomtoes · 09/08/2021 17:00

Prescription charges are too high, and of more people are going to have to pay them, then the charge should be reduced

The reason more people are going to pay them is because they cost too much. It’s entirely reasonable that free prescriptions are aligned with state pension age just like all other age related benefits. I’m entitled to them but could easily afford to pay, most of my friends are in the same boat.

rottd · 09/08/2021 17:04

We are all paying for the NHS already, and some have not had much of a service during the last 18 months.

The point is we don't pay enough & you want prescriptions to be cheaper?!

dreamingofsun · 09/08/2021 17:07

Deraltemann - if English population was same size as other nations they would just reduce the level of funding we had....plus there would be less revenue coming in since the highest proportion comes from England. A fairer thing to do would be to share the money out more equitably so we can all benefit from things like free prescriptions/tuition fees/hospital parking etc etc

MadeOfStarStuff · 09/08/2021 17:08

There’s no reason why a 60 year old who is working/not on a low income needs free prescriptions more than anyone else of working age.

I personally think prescriptions should be free for everyone as they are in other parts of the UK. But if you’re going to charge working age people it makes sense to raise the age in line with state pension age.

CayrolBaaaskin · 09/08/2021 17:13

They’re not doing it “by stealth”, there’s a public consultation (that you in fact linked to op - lol).

I don’t see that wealthy people between the ages of 60 and 67 should get free prescriptions because of age though. They can be subject to the same rules as everyone else. I generally don’t favour charges for prescriptions as a way to raise money though. There’s always a risk that someone’s circumstances means they can’t afford it but don’t qualify for help. I’d rather everyone got free prescriptions and we raised the funds from taxation.

Pottedpalm · 09/08/2021 18:00

@ActonSquirrel

Was it not just a year ago or less people were screaming at each other to put their entire lives on hold to save the elderly and stay locked down to save them as the most affected?

Now no one gives a flying fuck if their state pension is cut or they get charged for prescriptions?!

The absolute truth is you wanted lockdowns to suit yourselves so you didn't have to go to work be it furlough or wfh. No one cared about the greater good at all.

You could well be right!
Lookjaz · 09/08/2021 18:04

It is anti people who live in England, as those in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not pay at any age

StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 18:32

Was it not just a year ago or less people were screaming at each other to put their entire lives on hold to save the elderly and stay locked down to save them as the most affected?

Now no one gives a flying fuck if their state pension is cut or they get charged for prescriptions?!

Exactly - and people now scuttling to have a two tier system that will ultimately penalise the poor.

Blossomtoes · 09/08/2021 18:34

Was it not just a year ago or less people were screaming at each other to put their entire lives on hold to save the elderly and stay locked down to save them as the most affected? Now no one gives a flying fuck if their state pension is cut or they get charged for prescriptions?!

People between 60 and 67 aren’t “elderly”, they’re working age.

StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 18:39

People between 60 and 67 aren’t “elderly”, they’re working age

This is not going to stop here - soon everybody will be paying. Just think of the struggle now to get an NHS dentist - soon it will be a struggle to get an NHS doc

StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 18:41

And.......the fact they are 'working age' is a very recent thing too, brought about as many found they wouldn't get their pension when they thought.
Be careful what you support.

rottd · 09/08/2021 18:42

This is not going to stop here - soon everybody will be paying. Just think of the struggle now to get an NHS dentist - soon it will be a struggle to get an NHS doc

That's happened

Blossomtoes · 09/08/2021 18:46

@StoneofDestiny

And.......the fact they are 'working age' is a very recent thing too, brought about as many found they wouldn't get their pension when they thought. Be careful what you support.
I’m a Waspi woman who had her pension date moved back twice. There wasn’t much sympathy for us. It seems perfectly logical to me to align all pensioner benefits to state pension age.
Theluggage15 · 09/08/2021 18:48

Good idea. There shouldn’t be an age limit on paying anyway, it should depend on income. Plenty of working age people are worse off than pensioners and as the majority of prescriptions are used by the over sixties then it’s right they should pay.

This country like many other western countries has a huge problem building with ageing populations, there will have to be more of these changes.

SquirryTheSquirrel · 09/08/2021 18:51

Just because the Government has raised the pension age it doesn't mean that our bodies have stopped the natural ageing process.

Well said. I have filled in the form and highlighted the woeful lack of publicity around this.

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