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

[Idratherbepaddleboarding]

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?

Quite right too, Crikey! I am in my seventies and feel the same way; though I am on no meds I may need some in the future.

Sort of a good point @Crikeyalmighty but it wasn't a sudden decision. I heard about it in about 1992 and had 30 years to plan for it.

The statistics to "prove" they are the wealthiest generation are based on pension pots and houses. This will always be the case. If you have a pension to pay out until you die, your pension pot will look large when you first retire. Even if you only get a few thousand pension a year it is still going to be more in the stats than someone earning a few thousand a year. And anyone who owns a house will have paid off the mortgage, so that increases peoples wealth on paper.

If you look at monthly income you see a different picture. The average weekly income for pensioners is £304 once you take away housing costs. This is the average and is inflated by those who are wealthy. Anyone who owns a house will not have any rent or mortgage, so for that group £304 is the average total weekly income.

Jesus we've all had our retirement age moved forward not just the "waspi women"
And you wouldn't have to spend loads of money on administering it. Just make a rule that universal credit or pension credit and you get free prescriptions. Other than that you can buy a pre-pay cert. Even if they never audited it and just relied on people's honesty to either pay or sign it would still save a load of money. Unless you think most over 60s would commit fraud.

@RosesAndHellebores So disingenuous. This is when it was first mooted as an idea.
Lots of ideas are mooted that never happen.
I mean the idea has already been mooted that second homes should be made illegal. So if it is made illegal in twenty years time so I should tell everyone acting surprised that they have known about this proposal for twenty years?

I agree with you, in some cases a statin is given rather than telling the patient that if they go for a half hour walk daily there will be the same effect.

I'm 52 and up to 45 you could count on one hand the amount of prescriptions I’d had, contraception aside. But then just before my 46th birthday I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I currently take 6 different medications to manage my symptoms, paying for a PPC happily and grateful for it because if the PPC didn’t exist the expense would be huge every month. I haven’t been absent from work sick since 2014 as I don’t get sick, just my constitution I guess. Should medication for conditions like PD be added to the list of free prescriptions? That’s another question altogether. I’ll most likely be medically retired by 60 so will I be able to afford a PPC or I could say I’ve been paying for 15 years, let me have it for free now, I’m never getting better. If over 60s should pay for prescriptions if they can afford it then should people with conditions on the exempt list also pay? As I’ve been typing I’ve thought about it the list of conditions that are exempt from charges are on the list because someone with the condition is more vulnerable and without getting the prescription they could potentially be making themselves sicker. Likewise the reason that the over 60s getting free prescriptions started was probably for the same reason as I’m sure like there are pensioners that have money that don’t put their heating on because they’re worried about the cost there will be some 60+ year olds that will be more at risk than a younger person if they don’t have the right medication due to their age. Just thought of it as a possibility for why it was introduced, I might be wrong though.

@Rainyrunway pension credit does not exist for new retirees. So you mean get rid of free prescriptions then?
Older retirees have a lower state pension and could claim pension credit if they do not have other income. Very new retirees have a slightly higher state pension and so do not get pension credit.
The older state pension was only just over £8k a year. Most women get less as there was no NI credit for SAHM before 1978.

@KitKatLove Every decent GP encourages people to take more exercise. Mt disabled DP takes a statin. He can also walk very slowly for about 5 minutes in pain. Not unusual in older people.

@RosesAndHellebores Ok - well I can add in I hadn't seen a doctor for 22 years apart from Smears until long covid made its appearance or ever claimed on the public purse apart from 1 month of housing benefit many years ago and worked full time with a 13 week old. The only things I get out the system now are free meds and being able to have an over 60s discount rail card.

That's disingenuous, as previously explained by a PP; also, the rules changed even once they'd been announced & people had been informed of them. Different women had different advice, or none at all, at different times before they were due to retire. My own retirement age was moved twice, once without any notice. It's widely accepted that WASPI women had the worst possible deal, & that this was unjust.

Those lucky, wealthy boomers, eh?

But we shouldn't all be thinking about what we can personally take out!! Taxes should be paid for the good of society! You don't just get to take out because you paid in. It's like an insurance policy

My experience with my parents, grandparents and PIL was that they would suggest exercise and write a prescription at the same time. I would like to think it goes without saying that I am not suggesting exercise is appropriate for someone that can barely walk for 5 minutes without being in pain.

It would cost a fortune in bureaucracy to means test every patient over sixty regarding prescription charges; yes, it would make jobs for some people, not very interesting or inspiring jobs but jobs nonetheless. However it is a ridiculous idea.

Many over sixties who are quite comfortably off had financial struggles when younger.

Honestly, when I was younger and working I never grudged anybody freebies, least of all the 'elderly'. I had elderly relatives with health problems and was glad if anything was available to ease any struggles, was well aware that I might be in the same boat one day.

But it's the same for everyone younger than you too. I reckon I'll be in my 70s before I'll be allowed to retire. And I am not getting free medicine as a result.

@Nordicrain you might at 60 though!

Unlikely. And in the meantime, my retirement age will be pushed further and further back due to the generations before me.

I actually think everyone should get free prescriptions, and may a bit more tax. That would be fairer. As it is, those who are paying for it don't get it which does seem a little silly.

And in the meantime, my retirement age will be pushed further and further back due to the generations before me.

Due to them living longer?

Bastards!

In part. And not paying enough into the pot when they were working (while clearly enjoying the benefits).

And consistently voting (as a cohort obviously not each individual) for policies that benefit their group to the detriment of other, younger, groups.

I don’t think everyone understands the concept of it can cost £25m to save £5m. I think your point is spot on.

It doesn't work like that. What those of pension age were paying into the pot when they were of working age was funding the pensioners of the day. Now you are funding their retirement and today's children and young people will fund your generation's retirement.

Imagine you got to your expected retirement age & suddenly had to wait another 6 or 7 years for your pension...

Once people hit 39 they are more likely to vote Tory than for any other party. It is not just the over 60s who are to blame.

The hate for older people and the disabled from some cohorts on this site is really ugly.

I would raise the age to that of the state pension, or maybe 70.

I'd tackle the SUV and other large car issue for other reasons. I'd guess half of those cannot drive properly, and a good proportion of the rest should not have a car licence because of previous conduct or health reasons. I'd start medical requirements long before 60 though.