Free prescriptions during pregnancy

[Whyjustwhy83]

During my first and 2nd pregnancy I had free prescriptions and never had anyone mention a maternity exemption certificate. Were they a thing 9 yrs ago? As I always just ticked pregnant on the prescription certificate. Anyhow I'm currently pregnant with number 3, midwife mentioned free prescriptions but nothing about a certificate needed. Thankfully while looking online it came up and I applied not realising it was something I really needed as no-one had mentioned it. So anyway I've had a letter saying I'm being fined for claiming prescriptions for free.I've just phoned up and they've waved the fine but I'm being charged for prescription claimed while pregnant,as I didn't have the certificate. I didn't know I'd actually needed this certificate to qualify for the free prescriptions .I'm I the only pregnant woman that didn't know this?I'll pay but I'm pissed off.

I didn’t know either and have also been fined!! So frustrating and my midwife never mentioned it nor did the pharmacy!

I had my daughter in 2021 and it was free after 20 weeks until one year after my due date and I got a form signed from my midwife. I can’t remember if I had to ask for it or just got given it though!

I've heard a few people have been fined in your position OP.

It'd be nice if Pharmacy staff could check when someone ticks 'pregnant'.

And signs in the pharmacy might help too.

You’ve needed a certificate from your midwife for at least five years.
Where I am, they get emailed to you automatically after your 16 week check, so it’s worth looking to see if that happened for you too. You don’t apply yourself here. I don’t know if everywhere uses the same process, though.

I had my first in 2013 and needed a certificate then. I was asked for it in the pharmacy so even if I hadn't been told about it I would have found out then. Pretty poor that your chemist doesn't ask for it. I have a prepaid HRT one now and they always ask to see that too.

I needed a certificate with my eldest in 2014

I needed one in 2013.

I got emailed mine at my booking appointment with all 3 DCs from 2022 until the latest one earlier this year. No one has ever checked it though.

YANBU OP the dispenser should really ask. Mine automatically ticks the box when I waddle up to the desk (I’m 30 weeks now).

Pretty sure I had one in 2004. I remember going to the dentist and realising I'd forgotten it. He looked at my rather large belly, laughed (kindly) and said "it's OK, I can see why you're exempt"

Tried to get the certificate from midwife, health visitor, GP… got sent round and round and never got it in the whole time I was pregnant or after.

Seems I'm not only one who didn't know and that it's different in each area too. I was told free at my 9 week booking in appointment nothing about it being from a certain week of pregnancy. It definitely is free in early pregnancy here as I'm only 16+ weeks now and all prescriptions from the back end of September when I applied are covered. Nothing was mentioned at all during my last pregnancy in 2023 either. I think it really should be made clearer and as said the chemist should have informed me. I phoned them up and they said I needed to have told them I was pregnant??? They never hand me the certificate either to fill out though and they haven't since COVID I've just paid when asked.

This just happened to me last week! Got sent a penalty charge saying i had wrongly claimed a free prescription a few weeks ago because although I was pregnant I had not actually been issued the certificate by the midwife yet. I phoned up extremely cross and hormonal by which time the certificate had arrived but they said they were totally unable to remove the prescription charge, only the fine. I was bloody livid, at the principle not the cost.

I had my first DC in 2022 and don't recall ever even receiving the certificate back then. Certainly none of this crap either.

Definitely needed it for well over a decade ago. At the booking in appointment my midwife would sign the paperwork and pass to me to complete and post. A physical card was sent in the post. Now it’s just an online card.

I remember that it was needed in 2004. A physical card was issued back then. Prescriptions do state that you need the exemption, not just to be pregnant. It is harder since Covid though, as pharmacies often complete the form for you.

@Moneyworrier123 @NomoneyNoprospects

I guess maybe it's down to areas we live in as other posters seem to have known about needing these certificates. I'm going to ask the midwife tomorrow although it won't be the one that booked me in, I just find it strange it wasn't mentioned and do feel it's unfair but like I said I'll pay. Thank god I had it in place in September as I've had pneumonia and DVT and have had multiple prescriptions each week since I'd have a fortune to pay.

@CatsorDogsrule That's it though I wasn't told and my pharmacy don't hand over the paper to sign,.I'll be asking the next time I pick anything up though.

I dont recall ever having one. I had kids in 2005 and 2009.