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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think blanket free prescriptions for over 60s NEED to end?

855 replies

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 19/04/2023 14:31

I know this will be controversial but I popped to the doctors in my lunch break to collect my prescription and joined a longish queue. Everyone in front of me was over 60 and collecting huge bags of medications and I was the only one paying for any of it.

I don’t dispute that I should have to pay but often I can’t afford it which has led to me having to miss days of my medication, leaving me feeling very emotional and at times suicidal (medication is for depression). Perhaps if everyone who has over a certain income had to pay, they’d be able to lower the prescription charge for everyone or be able to afford the pay rises they say they can’t afford for nurses and junior doctors.

The killer was that every single one of the people in front of me got back into massive, brand new SUVs, one couple into a Range Rover and another into a Jaguar. If they can afford to own (and run!) cars like that, paying for a prescription would be a drop in the ocean for them. AIBU to think that free prescriptions should be limited to those in pension credit just like Universal Credit?

When DH’s grandad died, his mum and auntie shared out his collection of prescription paracetamol and ibuprofen (I know they should be returned to the pharmacy but they’d only have been destroyed and both are ex nurses so I guess they know what they’re doing). I’m not joking, there were boxes and boxes of the stuff, we didn’t buy painkillers for years and these will have cost the NHS a lot more than they would from the supermarket and weren’t even taken by the person that they were intended for! Surely paracetamol and ibuprofen should not be available on the NHS at all?

I really don’t want to bash the over 60s and it wouldn’t be a vote winner for politicians but surely we can’t afford to keep free prescriptions for those that can afford them?

OP posts:
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Habreathmint · 19/04/2023 19:52

I agree with you about paracetamol etc shouldn't be on prescription but you're being so silly making sweeping assumptions about 'everyone ' in front of you! Have you ever heard of pre payment certificates for prescriptions? Everyone in the queue might have had one. You should get one yourself and stop moaning.

Marmalad0neverything · 19/04/2023 19:53

What really gets me is that NEET teenagers don’t get prescriptions free. My son was out of full time education as mentally ill needing 3 x prescriptions. Unbelievably as parents of 3 with things quite tight we had to pay whilst his rich grandparents with no dependants didn’t for their medication.

We’re in our 50s and I bet we end up having to pay which will piss me off as we’ve had to cough up for Uni for his sibling which again his grandparents didn’t. Child benefit now has restrictions and free dentistry has gone. They enjoyed both.What really gets me is we both work full time and neither grandmothers ever worked. They have had everything paid for and it never seems as if that generation has to suffer financial pain. Tories want the grey vote and don’t care about struggling families as they all believe in and can pay for private. Why oh why are they still voted for?

orangedalmatian · 19/04/2023 19:53

Over 60s who are needing 'huge' big bags of medications are presumably sick enough not to be working anyway. As you age you need more meds (well some people do) so they would be disproportionately disadvantaged if they had to pay.

ily0xx · 19/04/2023 19:55

It’s never going to change because unfortunately poor young people don’t vote, rich pensioners do, so the politicians are catering to them far more. Pensioners have about an 80% voting rate, under 30’s its less than 30%.

WomblingTree86 · 19/04/2023 19:55

Ludo19 · 19/04/2023 19:25

You are NOT getting the fact that I don't give a flying fuck. I don't think smackheads should get methadone free so fuckin leave it you won't change my mind.

Show quote history

You are right that I didn't understand that you don't care about the victims of crimes committed by drug addicts. I get that now though.

Davros · 19/04/2023 19:55

I completely agree OP and I'm 63 and I'm definitely getting the benefit. It's unsustainable but presumably costly to change. I'm also amazed at free travel for all over 60 in London (after 9.30am!)

Ludo19 · 19/04/2023 19:57

WomblingTree86 · 19/04/2023 19:55

You are right that I didn't understand that you don't care about the victims of crimes committed by drug addicts. I get that now though.

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You are very wrong on that score. My mum was stabbed by a drug addict. maybe thats where im biased. Robbed then stabbed....poor poor victim, had it hard as hes on drugs. My sympathy will always be with their victims

Lapland123 · 19/04/2023 19:58

ily0xx · 19/04/2023 19:34

Agree with this. It’s an absolute joke.

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Totally agree.
The whole nonsense that they have ‘ paid into it all their lives’ is so irritating, as the whole point is that they haven’t paid enough by a long shot for what they are taking out of it now.

And it’s their own children and grandchildren getting screwed over by property prices, lack of funding for education, fees on uni etc

Ludo19 · 19/04/2023 19:58

ily0xx · 19/04/2023 19:49

You realise people who’ve dealt with childhood abuse particularly early childhood sexual abuse are significantly more likely to become drug addicts? Learn to get some empathy instead of being such a nasty judgemental person.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-addiction/202109/why-trauma-can-lead-addiction

I’m not going to wag my finger like a judgemental idiot at people who have likely had a significantly worse start in life than I have.

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I've suffered childhood sexual abuse. I've had an awful childhood. I'm definitely not judgemental...you on the other hand were rude to me upthread if anyone is nasty and judgemental it is you.

Limboingnow · 19/04/2023 20:00

The older generation are richer at the moment but those coming up eg Gen X won't be so rich because of the end of final salary pensions and will be having to pay dental costs and helping children through university.

Taxing rich pensioners is a better way to go.

A ban on SUVs is also appropriate

shellyleppard · 19/04/2023 20:01

If you are on regular medication you can get a prescription for £15 a year??? Agree if they can afford fancy cars then should pay more for their prescription.

NotCopingWell1 · 19/04/2023 20:02

Free prescriptions for over 60s are ending.

WomblingTree86 · 19/04/2023 20:02

Ludo19 · 19/04/2023 19:57

You are very wrong on that score. My mum was stabbed by a drug addict. maybe thats where im biased. Robbed then stabbed....poor poor victim, had it hard as hes on drugs. My sympathy will always be with their victims

Show quote history

You just said that you don't care if there are more victims of crime due to methadone no longer being free. Make up your mind.

Ludo19 · 19/04/2023 20:03

WomblingTree86 · 19/04/2023 20:02

You just said that you don't care if there are more victims of crime due to methadone no longer being free. Make up your mind.

Show quote history

You carry on twisting what I've said. I have a very personal experience. You implying that I don't care about victims of crime is reaching.

CrotchetyQuaver · 19/04/2023 20:05

Would it be worth it for you to do a prescription pre payment certificate? I didn't know they existed for many years, I could have saved myself a lot if I had known

fitzwilliamdarcy · 19/04/2023 20:14

Lapland123 · 19/04/2023 19:58

Totally agree.
The whole nonsense that they have ‘ paid into it all their lives’ is so irritating, as the whole point is that they haven’t paid enough by a long shot for what they are taking out of it now.

And it’s their own children and grandchildren getting screwed over by property prices, lack of funding for education, fees on uni etc

Show quote history

Agree. My parents used to say it all the time - my dad did 30 years, my mum did 12. They paid off the mortgage at 45, retired at 55, sold the house for 20 times what they paid for it, bought a load of NI credits and now get the full state pension on top of the big gold-plated occupational one my dad has. Both sets of grandparents lived well into their 80s so they could be retired for longer than they worked!

Meanwhile I’ll likely be retiring in my mid-70s, doubt there’ll be a state pension to speak of and as for the property market…

It’s an infuriating rhetoric. Many in that generation worked for 45-50 years in hard jobs and don’t have a lot of money but many others are ridiculously affluent. To say they all paid in all their lives and are entitled to decades of free stuff paid by those who won’t enjoy half as much - it’s crazy to me.

But MN is full of the boomer generation so you just get called ageist here!

Felixss · 19/04/2023 20:16

fitzwilliamdarcy · 19/04/2023 20:14

Agree. My parents used to say it all the time - my dad did 30 years, my mum did 12. They paid off the mortgage at 45, retired at 55, sold the house for 20 times what they paid for it, bought a load of NI credits and now get the full state pension on top of the big gold-plated occupational one my dad has. Both sets of grandparents lived well into their 80s so they could be retired for longer than they worked!

Meanwhile I’ll likely be retiring in my mid-70s, doubt there’ll be a state pension to speak of and as for the property market…

It’s an infuriating rhetoric. Many in that generation worked for 45-50 years in hard jobs and don’t have a lot of money but many others are ridiculously affluent. To say they all paid in all their lives and are entitled to decades of free stuff paid by those who won’t enjoy half as much - it’s crazy to me.

But MN is full of the boomer generation so you just get called ageist here!

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I'm not even worrying about me I'm wondering how much worse it could get for my DC and possible DGC. Society should be progressing but a lot of the older generation (not all) couldn't give two fucks about their descendants comfort.

Macaroni46 · 19/04/2023 20:22

orangedalmatian · 19/04/2023 19:53

Over 60s who are needing 'huge' big bags of medications are presumably sick enough not to be working anyway. As you age you need more meds (well some people do) so they would be disproportionately disadvantaged if they had to pay.

No they wouldn't. They'd get a prepayment certificate like those of us who do pay for our prescriptions do who have multiple items each month.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 19/04/2023 20:37

@Felixss Agree. My parents used to say that life is difficult for all generations, they had it tough too and the younger generations - including their kids - just need to be resilient and get on with it. They’re not nice people but they’re not alone in their views.

WomblingTree86 · 19/04/2023 20:51

Ludo19 · 19/04/2023 20:03

You carry on twisting what I've said. I have a very personal experience. You implying that I don't care about victims of crime is reaching.

Show quote history

It's not "reaching" and I haven't twisted anything. My point (which you seem to have missed) from the beginning was that if drug addicts had to pay for methadone they would fund it by increasing crime and therefore the victims of crime. You said that you don't care but now are saying that you do.

IQuiteLikeFaggots · 19/04/2023 20:56

Felixss · 19/04/2023 19:31

To be honest it's becoming a joke. We are running out of young people to pay for all the freebies. Thats why the government want the 50 year olds to go back to work. My grandparents have been retired since I was born that's 30 years!!! A 30 year retirement will be unthinkable now people haven't paid in enough for the long retirement. Rich pensioners should pay more its a huge burden to expect your dc and dgc to pay lots of tax and be unable to buy their own property. While they are getting freebies. The generations are getting worse off as the years go on. The aging population is getting much worse everyone should be equally doing their part.

I agree that retirees should pay if they can afford it.

But it works both ways. Plenty of young folk round my way have tons of spare cash yet are dependent on draining the state when it suits.

Greentree1 · 19/04/2023 20:58

I always found I was the only one paying, and they weren't over 60. in fact it was almost unheard of for someone (me) to pay. There are so many exclusions a big one being people on benefits. The one that particularly annoyed me was a guy with a great sun tan discussing his recent holiday abroad with the pharmacist while claiming his free prescription.

Bluebellbike · 19/04/2023 21:00

I am 63 and would like to buy a prepayment certificate as I can afford to, and would prefer to make a contribution. I have a lot of medication (7 types each day). I also take paracetamol throughout the day but I buy those myself.
I could not afford to pay for all of my medication each month.

But I am not allowed to buy a certificate. It is not possible. Perhaps it should be optional. Surely some people would buy one?

Quisquam · 19/04/2023 21:02

What really gets me is that NEET teenagers don’t get prescriptions free. My son was out of full time education as mentally ill needing 3 x prescriptions. Unbelievably as parents of 3 with things quite tight we had to pay whilst his rich grandparents with no dependants didn’t for their medication.

Are you sure ? Didn’t he qualify for the NHS low income prescription scheme

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme

NHS Low Income Scheme | NHSBSA

Includes what's covered, who can apply, how to apply and renewing and replacing your HC2 or HC3 certificate

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme

gulph · 19/04/2023 21:09

I think all adults should pay monthly or annually for the prescription pre payment scheme. I had almost the opposite in the pharmacy the other day where there were 3 people in front of me that didn't pay for their prescriptions due to being on benefits and one I recognised from school who has never had a job however still posts pictures of her kids when they go shopping and on holidays. £10 a month for all your prescriptions is nothing.

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