Free prescriptions advice

[aliasname]

about 15 years ago I had a temporary ileostomy and my GP at the time signed me off for free prescriptions. After the ileostomy was 'closed' he said I could continue to have free prescriptions because I still had to (TMI) use a catheter to empty my bowels.

I moved GPs about 5 years ago and continued to claim free prescriptions as I have so much stuff (catheters, sterile lubricant, loperamide as well as seroxat and hayfever stuff)

But I think you're supposed to get the prescription checked every 5 years. I'm worried that if I ask about it now, the Health Authority - or somebody -will demand back-payment for false claims over the last ten years! I haven't dared to mention it even to my doctor in case it throws up all sorts of problems, and I end up with a bill for thousands of ££££.

What should I do?

Thanks for reading!

You poor thing - the worry won't help.
Visit www.patient.co.uk/health/Free-or-Reduced-Cost-Prescriptions.htm and see if your condition is listed.
You are presumably still needing an assortment of prescription only stuff so ask your GP if you do need an update for your exemption certificate when you next get a prescription.

If you don't well, you don't need to admit what you've been doing, just look at getting a new prepayment arrangement , even though it is about £100 per year. If you do still qualify, you can just breathe again! Whatever the answer you know you're legal!

From the FAQs it looks as if you should have received a reminder when your Medical Exemption Certificate was due to expire after 5 years (although weren't all prescriptions free 15 years ago? I can't remember when the charging came in).

How do you claim for free prescriptions, do you tick the box saying you have a Medical Exemption Certificate? Really I think the pharmacy are meant to check this before they start giving you the prescriptions without charging the amount - my DH has a pre-payment certificate and they never ask to see it, but have the certificate number on their computer so they can reconcile the claims.

I think it's very unlikely you could be eligible for backdated costs, but I would get it sorted out one way or another. The pre-payment cert can be paid monthly so you don't need to find it all in one go. Best to know for sure, fingers crossed you are still exempt from charges.