Prescription charges for over 60s

[herewegogc]

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

I don't think a lot of people realise how broke this country is

Perfectly logical to keep it in tandem with reaching pensionable age.

I'm really enjoying free travel - I'm "entitled" to it so I use it, but I still earn the same as I did before I was 60, seems slightly mad.

@tttigress

I don't think a lot of people realise how broke this country is

It’s not about being broke but the wealth going to a very small number.. The government, the public can buy the Johnson’s two pictures they want for £100k, we can order two jets for himself to gad about in, we can fund the environment minister to travel to thirty countries during a pandemic. We’re not broke - there is polarisation of wealth.

That’s not a reason for prescription charges. I’d like to see it being fairer. If you are of working age and not exempt, then no reason not to pay. I think it’s wrong for different parts of U.K. to have different rules though.

It’s not about being broke but the wealth going to a very small number.

It’s both.

It’s both.

I agree

@bruffin

See this is all well and good, but my DD20 suffers severe asthma, and also needs quite a few prescriptions to keep her alive. She's a student and has not been able to afford to pick up some of thesemedications immediately, having to wait to be paid or asking if I can transfer her some Why doesnt she have a prepay certificate? Max £10 a month

Perhaps because she's knee deep in her overdraft, despite a PT job, and can't afford to spend £100 in one go? That is a LOT of money for us and we just haven't ever been in a position to pay it. A month ago, she was in resus after a severe attack as her steroid inhaler ran out and the hospital pharmacy gave her all her refills for free. They could see she hadn't been able to pick them up when she needed and were totally sympathetic. There needs to be concessions for students!

@DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat

ElvisPresleyHadABaby See this is all well and good, but my DD20 suffers severe asthma, and also needs quite a few prescriptions to keep her alive. She's a student and has not been able to afford to pick up some of these medications immediately, having to wait to be paid or asking if I can transfer her some Sounds like she is eligible for an HC2 certificate - she needs to fill in an HC1 form. The certificate gives free prescriptions, eye tests, dental appointments for at least a year for those who qualify.

How do I find out if she qualifies?

@Boredmotherofone pension credit is around £175 per week for a single person, so no your mother doesn't have to get by on £400 per month.
I mean why would you choose to lie about something so easily checkable?

How much is it going to cost the NHS to treat all the people who become seriously ill because they can't afford prescriptions against how much would the NHS make by increasing prescription charges to retirement age? Don't forget there is the admin, the reprinting the blank prescriptions & at the moment there are different retirement ages.

It would be better & fairer to put 1p on NIC instead of making over 60's pay for prescriptions, it would raise more money towards the NHS.

Any Increased tax should go onto income tax, not national insurance. National insurance is quite regressive affecting lower earners disproportionately and not affecting wealthy retired people who have unearned income (e.g. rental income).

@tttigress

I don't think a lot of people realise how broke this country is

I do understand the economic situation, but we've had austerity since 2010 and then a pandemic, we need to look hard at whether overall our economic approach worked post-2010 (it didn't, but the electorate as a whole don't seem minded to vote for something else).

90% of prescriptions are free of charge.

My parents in their 60s have a combined income more than me. Will retire on pensions far in excess of what I could ever dream....they should absolutely pay. Any subsidised/free benefits like prescriptions and free bus travel etc for the over 60s should be mean tested

[quote Theythinkitsalloveritisnow]@Boredmotherofone pension credit is around £175 per week for a single person, so no your mother doesn't have to get by on £400 per month.
I mean why would you choose to lie about something so easily checkable?
[/quote]
If she has savings over 10k she doesnt qualify

Elvispresleyhadababy - you can pay for a prepayment certificate in 10 monthly instalments. Info is on www.gov.uk/get-a-ppc. You can also have a look at www.gov.uk/help-nhs-costs to see whether your DD would qualify for other schemes to help people with low income.

Any subsidised/free benefits like prescriptions and free bus travel etc for the over 60s should be mean tested

I’m sure they would be if means testing didn’t cost more than blanket benefits. It would be completely counter productive.

@Childrenofthestones

90% of prescriptions are free of charge.

A completely anecdotal experience which suggests this is true -

I once went in to get a prescription after work, so must have been around 5:30 and they had a trainee behind the desk who didn't seem to understand the concept of paying for a prescription. She kept saying 'you need to sign there!' (the exemption declaration) and I was saying, 'no I don't!' (unless I want to get done for fraud).

Not blaming her at all, as we all have to go through training when we start a new job but I was amazed that, at the end of a working day, she obviously hadn't yet had anyone else pay for a prescription.