Helping the government save money

[Samdelila]

I think free prescriptions for people with certain conditions should be means tested. What else could the government cut to save money?

If you take that stance, they’ll likely bugger off somewhere else where they are appreciated, then - thus contributing nothing. See: the 1970’s for examples…

@Samdelila but that would include all of us on Retirement Pension. We are the biggest users of the NHS, including getting prescriptions for free (if you ignore the years we've paid into the NHS)

this country has an aging population, . But, as a country, we turn our face against the only short term solution that exists. Immigration.

long term, we appear to be ignoring the reasons for a lack of young people having families. Like the exorbitant cost of child care.

so we have boxed ourselves into a corner. We don't want immigrants, and we don't want to help young familys.

the problem, as I see it, is much deeper than saving the government a couple of £ here and there

Er, the economy is doing the very opposite of boom, even with the free prescriptions! The current annual payment is affordable to most people. Cutting free prescriptions, most of which are for >60s anyway, wouldn't make a signficiant difference. The damage has been done to the economy over decades. There will be far more major changes needed than tinkering with who pays for prescriptions.

Agree!

Thankyou. Genuinely though I would ask you read more of the responses- I personally have strong reasons for objecting to some of OPs ideas but I don't expect you to trawl back looking for my comments as to why. Safe to say having read some of this thread out to my 62 year old disabled veteran husband, who has his own very strong views about where our country actually wastes most money (and it isn't on free prescriptions for the likes of him....) there very much is emotion involved, but many responses are well justified and not a matter of over reaction. He also has a very good understanding of our national defences which OP claims was their reason for starting this- our needing to cut costs to negate our reliance on US defence support, so we ourselves need no schooling there from OP. I also personally save the state a considerable amount by juggling a demanding outside job with his care and not calling on adult social care for help which I could- but don't to try and preserve some of his dignity. So there is always going to be a lot of real life emotion triggered due to real life situations when someone sweeps in and says cut this, cut that, I've got all the answers...

I get free prescriptions as I have an underactive thyroid which is medicated. Took time to get the right dose of medication too. So I shouldn’t get free prescriptions then?

No. Too many attempts to give free stuff only to people on low incomes which carry on eroding the point of working.
I also think higher earners deserve subsidised childcare.

Dont you think she pays for her own prescriptions by paying high tax on 200 000 income where u want to get ur scripts free by paying in peanuts?

I think we should keep the pre payment certificate but stop giving away prescriptions for free to people who can easily afford £120.

There is no need for the government to forgo her £120 for a pre payment certificate. I doubt she would ever have thought twice about paying for it.

Cuts have to made somewhere and I would rather £120 a year was taken from those who can afford it than from those who can’t.

Do you need free prescriptions or could you afford to pay £120 a year for a pre payment certificate? Do you want the country to keep on spending with no thought for tomorrow or do you want the government to reign spending in as painlessly as possible?

Why not remove free prescriptions from over 60s first? Many of them are still healthy and wealthy

So we might as well just keep giving free prescriptions to people who could easily afford £120 a year for a pre payment certificate and make no effort trying to identify other ways the government could save money? The problem is deeper than just saving a couple of pounds but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try and save them anyway.

I agree.

I think we should keep the pre payment certificate.

I am am not suggesting getting rid of the pre payment certificate just free prescriptions for those who can afford £120 a year.

Because as many people have pointed out it would just be a false economy. With the listed conditions it's important to ensure people take all medication they need to take and never miss any. If I don't follow an exemplary treatment regime for my condition I would end up with lengthy and expensive ICU stays. £120 wouldnt even cover the first hour or so of that stay,

I don't get any benefits and yet my condition costs me an awful lot more to live with, for instance I have to pay for cleaners and I have had to purchase a wheelchair with my own money in order to have any quality of life.

Begrudging this small difference of 120 pounds is just a really weird thing to fixate on. Maybe it will make you feel better if you think of it as a tax credit for those of us who are in work? Because working with a long term serious condition is no mean feat.

The systemic problems in the NHS aren't going to be tackled by changing this. And it's likely it would have expensive consequences.

And yet someone could be a multimillionaire and get all their medication for the price of only 120 pounds so it seems very bizarre to begrudge free prescriptions but be chill with the idea of the prepayment certificate

Crikey. You’re privy to the colossal wastes that are council budgets, yet you’re focusing on a relatively small number of people being given £100 a year?

Completely disagree.

This poor woman is already paying at least £600k a year in tax and you think she should also pay for her prescriptions for essential medication that keeps her alive?

Should she not get anything in return for working hard and paying tax, or do other people just get to benefit off her hard work.

Always easy to spend other people's money.

Working Hard while managing a complex chronic condition to boot

But if high earners (who pay the majority of tax) don’t get anything out of the pot that they fund, you might find them less willing to fund it. They then leave, or vote for tax reductions, meaning less money to pay for stuff for everyone else.

Spot on.

As many people have pointed out it would be expensive to means test so it is easier to have a blanket rule that applies to all. Therefore we cannot distinguish between millionaires, quite rich people, middle earners or those who are struggling just above the line at which they would qualify for benefits. I regret this, but it is the best way to avoid the expense of means testing. I still think that people who can afford it should not be exempted from paying the £120 for a pre payment certificate when the country needs to save money. I have no desire to fixate on this issue - I am looking for other sensible suggestions as to how the country can save money - preferably in the least painful way possible.