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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 08:39

Sorry - that's from The Guardian

foxandbee · 09/08/2021 08:40

Ooh there is some hate being spewed on this thread. Those horrible people making up all their illnesses and getting free houses etc. 🤮

StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 08:41

If you are still working why shouldn't you pay for your prescriptions

If you choose not to work (eg SAHM/F) why should you get free prescriptions? .

midgemagneto · 09/08/2021 08:42

In Scotland where all prescriptions are free, people who earn more pay more with higher taxes payable at lower incomes than in England

Strikes me as the best way

It's insurance for health and social care without any profit motives as in USA snd the richer pay more whilst the poorest are protected

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 09/08/2021 08:43

@VikingVolva

Other home nations are abolishing prescription charges.

Does anyone know how much is raised by the charges each year, and how it compares to the total cost of the drugs and estimated pharmacist time? Just wondering if it's drop in the ocean, or major inroad

I know that for years I was prescribed a particular asthma medication because it was cheaper than the cost of the prescription. When it was no longer effective, the replacement was more expensive.
Greeneyedminx · 09/08/2021 08:45

Itsasin77, you do realise if we follow your natural conclusion, all stay at home parents, who are obviously not working- therefore not contributing to society in general, should also not be entitled to any form of benefits, be that child benefits etc!!!
You cannot universally state who is/isn’t entitled to whatever benefits because of their age/employment status/and what you feel they have/are contributing to society!!!
No one age group is more deserving than another.
This government as all governments, pit people against each other by removing certain benefits that others have fought long and hard for.
We never really know how other people manage their lives, so shouldn’t be unilaterally decide who can/can’t claim certain benefits that will help them. Or decide who is more important and deserves the maximum care and benefits that they “deserve” !!!
When you are older, regardless of how you worked/didn’t work you may need help and care, the same as if you are younger with children or no children.
If you need help and care, regardless of age, then someone else decides they are going to remove it-regardless of how it might affect you, then I think you’d be pretty hacked off.
Everyone in society should be treated as an equal, stop this....my children and me are far more important than anyone else rubbish!!!
Remember that older people were once in your position with children and worries for their future.

Ragwort · 09/08/2021 08:45

I think it should certainly be reviewed .. my DH and I are both working, both over 60, we absolutely don't need 'free' prescriptions... neither do my elderly DPs who receive very good pensions, in fact my DF used to try and insist on paying but there was no way his money was accepted 'due to the system' so he would donate the equivalent to the community fund at the surgery.

But you do need a proper system to ensure those over retirement age who are on a low income/pension are able to received free prescriptions.

foxandbee · 09/08/2021 08:48

When I know of somebody who has never worked a day in her life, has a free home (not council or HA), has her pension, pension credit, private pension, council tax paid for yet is a health hypochondriac

How does she have a private pension if she has never worked? It can't be very big if she still gets pension credit. Unless it is her husband's private pension?

pascheretloire · 09/08/2021 08:50

My husband has a chronic condition and has a regular repeat prescription of four items. He's had an annual prepay certificate for years. Makes sense to do that for anyone who needs more than one prescription a month.
Now that retirement age for many is 68, 60 does seem a low age for benefits to kick in, but the 60 year olds that I know aren't going to turn them down. I have a friend who now gets free Oyster card travel, Senior railcard, free eye tests, and these are the only benefits she's ever had in her life. Free prescriptions are applied automatically - there is no option for over 60s to pay.

ittakes2 · 09/08/2021 08:50

I can't comment on the over 60s but the UK does have in my opinion some pockets of unnecessary free prescriptions. I have ceoliac's disease and I am therefore eligible for free gluten free biscuits, bread, pasta etc if I want it. Really unhealthy options though like those made from white gluten-free flour and no nutrition (unless its changed since I last looked at the options). I totally get gluten-free bread is more expensive and I completely support the idea of people who can't afford it accessing this service but a) why does the tax payer have to pay for unhealthy biscuits...they are not a necessity and b) it should be means tested c) bread is nice to have but not essential and either are biscuits and pasta etc. I choose not to access my free prescriptions but given the number of eligible coeliacs out there getting loaves of bread, pasta and buscuits each month it must be a hefty bill. Gluten free food is not medicine in my opinion and I think more consideration needs to be given to what is on offer for free via the NHS.

Fifthtimelucky · 09/08/2021 08:51

It seems sensible to me and I am 60.

Binnaggy · 09/08/2021 08:51

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 08:51

the money saved could go towards education or really work towards sink estates in terms of education, stock food banks who heavily rely on charity & the kindnesses of supermarkets who have to pay staff who sort out the donations

But the money saved wouldn't - never does!.

ActonSquirrel · 09/08/2021 08:51

@LemonRoses

I cannot see any reason to not charge over sixties who are on good incomes. I despise the Tories but a working sixty year old is probably better off than a younger person.
I can't see any reason not to charge the children of wealthy parents for their prescriptions.

I can't see why we give all pregnant women free prescriptions regardless of income.

I'd love to see means testing for all. I say that as someone who wouldn't qualify for free prescriptions for children etc if they did.

Pazuzu · 09/08/2021 08:52

There's no such thing as free. Someone pays for it. Either directly through tax, or higher prices through other peoples/companies taxes. It's also very very easy for politicians to give away other peoples money.

We have a growing and aging population and decisions have to be made accordingly.

I pay for my prescriptions by prepayment and see no problem with this. I also see no problem with older people who are in the financial position to do so paying for theirs.

StoneofDestiny · 09/08/2021 08:53

I pay for my prescriptions by prepayment and see no problem with this. I also see no problem with older people who are in the financial position to do so paying for theirs

Same thing could be said about any age group or any benefit - like Child Benefit, Maternity Care etc.

senua · 09/08/2021 08:55

it seems grossly unfair that some people get things free by dint of age that can well afford them.
We get them "by dint of age" because of that age. I take two tablets a day; DH takes seven. Neither of us took anything until we were around the 50 y.o. mark. Just because the Government has raised the pension age it doesn't mean that our bodies have stopped the natural ageing process.

All those saying that people of working age should pay for prescriptions: do you pay for contraceptives?

foxandbee · 09/08/2021 08:55

That is a daft idea ActonSquirrel. The admin costs of mean testing everyone would be colossal.

VikingVolva · 09/08/2021 08:55

The rules about gluten free are another prescribing issue that varies between home nations - in England it is only bread and flour mixes that are available on prescription

It is the other home nations, where prescriptions are free, where cereals, crackers, pasta and a few others can be had in prescription

PheasantsNest · 09/08/2021 09:00

It should be free for all. Those living in Wales and Scotland already get it free.Those of us on a low income struggle to afford the prepayment fee every month.

TalbotAMan · 09/08/2021 09:01

@VikingVolva

The rules about gluten free are another prescribing issue that varies between home nations - in England it is only bread and flour mixes that are available on prescription

It is the other home nations, where prescriptions are free, where cereals, crackers, pasta and a few others can be had in prescription

Even bread and flour aren't universal in England. The decision lies with local Clinical Commissioning Groups. Last time I checked, my local CCG had deauthorised these. (It has since been merged with the CCG next door but a quick scan of the new website shows that it is strong on 'engagment' and 'planning' but pretty light on 'we will/will not pay for X')
IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 09/08/2021 09:01

Means testing solves nothing in reality imo.

I’ve seen numerous posts re not worth working or doing extra hours because they get x, y and z free. We should be encouraging personal responsibility.

Thisbastardcomputer · 09/08/2021 09:01

I was rather surprised to find I'd got free prescriptions when I got to 60, I thought it would be pension age 66.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and take quite a bit of stuff, since I've had RA I bought a season ticket for prescriptions.

It's the doing things by stealth that annoys me, not the actual change.

bruffin · 09/08/2021 09:03

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

EmeraldShamrock · 09/08/2021 09:03

But the money saved wouldn't - never does!.
It isn't surprising. 😕

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