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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Does anyone know the actual status of students re free prescriptions etc

21 replies

Theas18 · 18/08/2014 23:39

Kids went to the dentist last week - dd2 at school - free. DS 18, between school and uni and dd1 between degrees but had to pay but were given a for which, with 3 undergrad and 2 post grad qualifications amongst the adults we couldn't cope with and seemed to imply parental income, even for a 21yr old mattered.

Yes we are bankrolling them to an extent but mostly they rely on student loans and a bit if earnings.

What is the actual status of full time students for this? It's annoying enough DS having to pay adult prices for his travel card to get around locally for September ,

OP posts:

BerylThePeril44 · 19/08/2014 06:29

I've been thinking about this too. Son has glasses and needs regular prescriptions for medical condition. I was told still free till 19 then apply for means tested/low income reduction. I agree that the form looks like a nightmare!!!

BerylThePeril44 · 19/08/2014 06:29

eatyourveg · 19/08/2014 08:09

ds has an exemption certificate for students called a HC2 - it gives him free prescriptions, free dental treatment, free eye sight tests, voucher towards glasses, free wig (?) and a refund of cost of travel to receive NHS treatment. He got the form from the chemist when he had to get a prescription, its available to all those on a low income and you just fill in the bits that say you are a student and state how much your rent and loan is.

On the form it says to renew you should fill out another HC1 form. You can get them online here

NapoleonsNose · 19/08/2014 08:19

I've found this link which might help.

Mitzi50 · 19/08/2014 08:22

I'm glad of this thread as my daughter is off to uni and on regular meds with glasses so have been wondering the same. Thanks for the link and information eatyourveg - the form is an HC11

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/Documents/HealthCosts/HC11.pdf

unweavedrainbow · 19/08/2014 08:33

Broadly speaking, the HC2 form works on the presumption that you are living on less than the government says that you need to live on. This means that some students will be entitled to help but not all. Student income is tricky. For benefit and income purposes it doesn't count over the summer (so income is worked out over 42 weeks), but most students are not entitled to benefits. This means that the equation may look like they have more money than they actually have, but money is taken off for books and transport. TBH it's worth putting a form in and seeing what happens, but don't expect the NHS to cover all costs.

sashh · 20/08/2014 09:03

Over 18 and not at school/FE college you have to pay.

But if you are on a low income you don't pay. Your children (not you) need to get the HC form for low income. It is their own income that counts, not yours so if they get a loan of £5000 that is their income.

Once that has been sent off they will get a credit sized card that they show at the dentist/chemist and don't need to pay.

They can also claim back the costs they spent this week which is the form they have been given.

Lonecatwithkitten · 20/08/2014 11:56

I think the crux with your two currently is that they are not enrolled in full time education at this moment in time.

sashh · 20/08/2014 12:01

Lone

No it isn't, over 18 it is assessed on income not being in education

secretsquirrels · 20/08/2014 13:04

I used to work at DWP but am out of date now.

It used to be that young people were treated as in full time education until the end of August. This would appear to tie in with Child Benefit.

DS1 is 18 and between 6th form and uni. My CHB ends at the end of August.
Yet he had to pay at the dentist last week.

The HC1 application is all very well but as they are in the middle of changing circumstances it's hard to fill in. DS has a part time very low paid job - but that will end in September. He has no student loan now but will soon and he lives at home now but will soon move to uni.

Notsoskinnyminny · 20/08/2014 16:30

I made sure I booked DD in for a check up last month, just before her 19th birthday as after that they have to pay.

For DS I either bought his prescription drugs over the counter or, if they weren't available, stocked up when we went to Spain as you can buy everything except HRT in their pharmacies.

secretsquirrels · 20/08/2014 18:04

Notsoskinnyminny According to DS dentist he had to pay because he was 18 and has left school. Not 19.

Bearcatt · 21/08/2014 06:32

DS1 has colitis.
Think we paid for a yearly prescription card for him whilst he was at Uni.
He pays for his own now.

Notsoskinnyminny · 21/08/2014 19:31

secretsquirrels the dentist told me to make sure I booked her in before her birthday when I had my check up she said the same when DS was 18. When she arrived for her appointment the receptionist asked if she was still in education and gave her a form to sign.

secretsquirrels · 22/08/2014 10:57

Right got this.
Here is a link to the NHS leaflet HC11
It covers the scenario where a young person is 18 and in between sixth form and uni on page 10.
So they should get it and I am getting DS to claim the refund on form HC5D.
Our dentist would appear to have been wrong.

alreadytaken · 22/08/2014 16:52

good link. So they should all qualify until their 19th birthday. Remind any with glasses to get a new pair before the birthday!

goinggetstough · 22/08/2014 17:36

Do they qualify until they are 19? I read it as up to 19 and when you are still in receipt of child benefit. I may be a year out of date but when my DC did their A levels child benefit finished on 31 August of that same year.

secretsquirrels · 22/08/2014 18:22

It's not linked to CHB. Page 10 of the leaflet is pretty clear.
Yes DS needs an eye test.

Bilberry · 22/08/2014 18:35

I remember when I was a student getting really annoyed by that form as student loans were counted as income! Since when is a loan income? I remember trying to argue with some uninterested call centre worker about why should students be expected to go into debt to pay for healthcare. Didn't get anywhere with it though.

goinggetstough · 22/08/2014 21:22

secret but then when you look on page 35 the ages for sight tests and glasses given are only up to 18 in full time education. Dental care and prescriptions seem to include 19 year olds though. I agree page 10 makes it looks as if it covers everything though.

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 25/08/2014 21:21

Mine managed to get them free til they were 19 (both at uni still..one on a 5 year course for medicine so a long time as a student) AFter 19 I got them both pre pay prescriptions.. £29 for three months or £105 thereabouts for the year. WELL worth if it they need regular meds (mine do)

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