Asthmatics in England pay for prescriptions

[Auburngal]

Any asthmatic in England who doesn't qualify for free prescriptions pay has to pay for their prescriptions.

Hopefully these people have some sense and get a prepayment certificate for £114.50. Which is paid monthly over 10 months per year. I have three daily asthma medications plus reliever and an emergency pack of oral steroids. If I didn't have a prepaid certificate - I would have spend about £420 a year (prescriptions are £9.90 per item)

Its disgusting that asthmatics have to pay for medication that makes them able to breathe and live a normal life. Over the past 5 years, 4 people have died per day from asthma.

Some sources say asthma isn't exempt as people grow out of it. Bullshit. My asthma has got WORSE since having covid twice. Before covid, I was on reliever and one daily medication. Now the daily medication is double strength and on two further meds. Plus I didn't get diagnosed with asthma till I was 12/13.

Even my GP who I saw an hour ago thinks its disgusting and he's asthmatic himself.

I have a prepayment prescription. I take one medication daily to control a long term mental illness and two due to allergies.

I think it’s excellent value. I am happy to pay the charge - I would just like there to be equity in charging across the home nations so that no one is disadvantaged.

I have to pay for my COPD meds. I will never be able to grow out of that.

I’ve been T1 Diabetic since childhood (incidentally, qualifies you for DLA as a child but not PIP as an adult though last time I checked the challenges don’t change once you hit 18). I don’t have to pay for prescriptions. It is the only benefit I receive though and I pay a chunk of tax and NI so I don’t begrudge myself it. I can’t have kids (which I know is not relevant per se) but it renders me ineligible for a lot of other government support that others may get on a similar income for example.

One thing I don’t understand though is why it also means if I need antibiotics for say an infected bite then that is also free. Acute medication being free is not the same as helping cover the costs of a lifelong disability.

Why should asthma be any different to other conditions? I don't understand

I do think asthma prescriptions should be exempt from charges. Breathing is an essential body function, not a choice or luxury.

I presume you mean with an exemption for low income/benefits aside?

Many people are forced to use foodbanks, they simply couldn't afford medication.

It isn't just asthmatics. Any one living with a chronic condition is in the same camp.

I have alot of long term meds that I will have to take forever, albeit not for asthma. I pre pay for that.

I do sympathise but equally there’s lots of other people in the same boat, not just asthmatics. That’s why pre pay exists I think

Not completely unsympathetic, but you could say the same for any given medical condition. I’d pay an absolute fortune for my prescriptions without the pre-payment certificate, despite leading as healthy a lifestyle as I can. Where do you draw the line?

Personally I don’t think Type 2 diabetics should get free prescriptions, though it makes financial sense for the NHS compared to the overall cost of treating diabetes complications. It just seems unfair on a personal level.

PS my dd is asthmatic so I do get where you’re coming from - and she’s 15 so we’ll soon have to start paying

It was made a lot longer than 20 years ago!!

I think the point should be why can the rest of the UK provide free prescriptions for all, but England do not?

About 9 in 10 prescriptions aren't paid for

Children, maternity and pensioners don't pay

I pay a dd of £20 a month for contact lenses alone. So I can find my way to the door.

Everyone here will have some sort of story. Who do you think should pay?

But there are many adults who developed it as an adult and haven't grown out of it

I pay for my prescriptions as an asthmatic as well! I don’t mind paying.

I’m in Australia and we have the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. It’s ludicrous you’re complaining about having to spend a tiny amount on medications. Medications shouldn’t be free for everyone. Even asthma medications should have a cost. I pay for asthma medication. I pay for antibiotics if I need it. The government can’t cover 100% of the cost of every drug.

I've always paid the PPC. I think it's affordable, but I am baffled as to why diabetics get their meds free when I have to pay for my inhalers and epipens. We're all just taking meds to stay alive and not get bluelighted to hospital.

I think it's fair enough that meds to improve the quality of your life are chargeable (and can be covered by a PPC) but meds to just stay alive...? I don't get where they've drawn the line.

When you're on a low income, £10 a month isn't a tiny amount.

Plus prescriptions for the pill are free.

The same for anyone with a medical exemption - the list is quite long. DP is exempt for having type 2 diabetes.

People on very low incomes are exempt

HRT has a special pre-pay cert that is about £20 a year.

Of the small minority who do have to pay, they can limit the cost with a 3 month or annual prepayment certificate.

Therefore the number of people who pay for prescriptions at all is a very small minority and those who do effectively have the cost capped at £10 a month.

So the amount of complaining about this does seem disproportionate. But I do wonder if it would be cheaper to make it free for everyone but then you have to deal with the problem of people collecting prescriptions for medicine they no longer really need 'because it's free' - there are many many instances of 'medicine hoarding'.

Also a lot of people expect their GP to prescribe all sorts of cheap medication, creams etc rather than pay for over the counter, clogging up appointments and increasing the cost to the NHS.

It's one of the only, or few if not, things that you can die from and still have to pay for the medication that keeps you alive. Very unfair.

I suppose they do need to review the list of conditions that qualify for free medication, I've read that it's outdated due to changes in prognosis for certain conditions.

Antidepressants? They keep you alive too.