Over 60s prescriptions

And we in England certainly should have equal benefits as those living in Wales and Scotland.

Well write to your MP then. Be sure to remind him that you're willing to pay more tax, like we Scots do. Mind you, we Scots and the Welsh have more sense than vote a Conservative government into power.

And I'm sure that the money spent on means testing people and collecting payments would be more than worth it so that you can feel you're not being cheated by the greedy rich. Or maybe not.

It’s high time these things were means tested, along with the heating allowance and the freedom bus passes. If people can afford to pay then so they should. Times have changed. We should be concentrating on the poorest in our society not subsidising the well off. And we in England certainly should have equal benefits as those living in Wales and Scotland.

bikergran

When I was on Jobseekers at the age of 60 I was not allowed free prescriptions. I gave up taking my bp tablets and Cholesterol because I couldn't afford them.

Many years ago my mum - who got free prescriptions due to long term medical condition - was in the pharmacy and heard a lady asking the chemist which were the most important items on the prescription as she couldn't afford all of it. Mum felt bad as she could have afforded to pay but didn't have to, which is how I know about it.

I started getting them free when put on diabetic medication but I got everything free, including antibiotics etc which wouldn't be exempt for others. I'm over 60 now so no-longer have to carry a medical exemption card.

Charging people with medical exemption for items which wouldn't qualify them for it alone would make sense. I'd support means testing for medical exemption as many people could easily afford it. In the same way some well off pensioners give away their winter fuel allowance to charity as they don't need it, people qualifying for medical exemption could maybe choose to donate some or all the savings to an NHS fund.

Sadly some of the richest people in this country hang on to everything they can and don't consider the poor at all, while many of us on low incomes still try to give to those in greater need even though the donations are small and may be sacrificial!

If a person can afford to pay for prescriptions, what else should they pay for?

Visits to the GP?

The cost of the ambulance taking them to hospital?

Food while they're in hospital?

Procedures that aren't actually life saving but are life changing?

Life-saving procedures?

Cancer treatment?

Be careful what you wish for.

Most people not working will be on benefits and getting free prescriptions anyway.
If a person is able to afford to pay, then I agree they should - including those up to retirement age.
Although I am in Scotland, and am on long term prescriptions I think I should be paying too.

State pension age starts at 66. Government is bringing prescriptions up in-line I suppose. Makes sense if you’re still working i suppose.

I actually feel more sorry for young parents who do not have a lot of money to spare and have to pay for prescriptions and medicines when they are sick. Same for bus passes. When I had young children I had to go without medicine and walk everywhere because I couldn't afford either. The money I saved would go on Calpol for my eldest child who had constant ear infections

NotANana

Free prescriptions were the only benefit left to me when I turned 60 a few years ago.
Oh, and I could (and did) apply for a "Senior Citizens Railcard".

My retirement age is receding into the future, my pension is becoming worth less and less, so I don't know how I will survive on it.

No kids because when I might have had them I had a really nasty bad back and pregnancy wasn't an option for me. Plus at the time overpopulation was a worry....

I don't know why they don't just shoot us when we are of no further economic use...

As I say, just melt away then nobody has the hassle of dealing with us , we've served our purpose, either propping up economy/populating the country at our costs kow towing to men for most of our lives due to lack of acknowledgement of our worth.why don't we just 'go away'?

There are many anomalies with the prescription charges. It is ridiculous that students have to pay in England when most of them are living on a grant with no extra income. In some Unis you are not allowed to have a part time job to supplement your low income.
People with certain conditions can get all their prescriptions free which just doesn't make sense.
I would like to see a sliding scale for prescriptions based on income. Rich pensioners should pay, poor pensioners shouldn't. However, I suspect we will never agree on who is rich and who is poor!
My daughter is permanently disabled but because her husband works, her disability benefit doesn't allow her free prescriptions. They literally have a household income that is barely over Universal Credit but they have to pay for their prescriptions. When the Benefits Office inadvertently gave the wrong advice about whether she was able to claim for free prescription, she got a large fine. It cost her more to ring the helpline to find out why she was being fined and at the end of it, she still had to pay.
The system is broken!

I have signed the petition. It won't affect me but it will affect people I know.

You know why don't we all just see ourselves off at 60? specially the "old women"? It certainly seems that this is what everyone wants! Or an even better , constructive move- why don't we all go on domestic strike? No washing/cleaning/cooking/shopping/ caring/babysitting/chattering to anyone we really don't HAVE to! We're probably the last bastions of politeness in society today ,men are allowed to be grumpy and everyone thinks it's funny. But get a grumpy woman? The expletives/pronouns available are well. I only have 2000 more characters to use! C'mon gals I'm sure we can think of something we're really effortlessly and historically excellent at? Being awkward. Let others have a taste of the junk we have to suck up in our lives

If you are already 60 or over you will continue to have free prescriptions. Only those who turn 60 when (if) the rules change will pay and then only up to age 66. Seems fair to me.

Free Prescriptions should be linked to State Pension age. Those under pension age can purchase a pre-payment certificate to reduce their outlay if they have multiple items to pay for, and there are many who are entitled to free prescriptions because of medical need or benefit entitlement. Wales, Scotland, and NI make their own rules regarding how they spend their funding.

Free prescriptions were the only benefit left to me when I turned 60 a few years ago.
Oh, and I could (and did) apply for a "Senior Citizens Railcard".

My retirement age is receding into the future, my pension is becoming worth less and less, so I don't know how I will survive on it.

No kids because when I might have had them I had a really nasty bad back and pregnancy wasn't an option for me. Plus at the time overpopulation was a worry....

I don't know why they don't just shoot us when we are of no further economic use...

"Point of order - if your government decides not to fund over-sixties prescriptions and ours does, that's not discrimination. That's a political choice."

"Its not discrimination. Really, get the facts right."

"We're different countries. Our health services are devolved. We can decide to spend our money any way we like. If you don't like it, write to your MP and tell them you want to be like Wales and Scotland."

"Oh, and BTW - we pay more income tax too. Myself, quite happily. That doesn't get mentioned often when the English start complaining about discrimination, does it?"

I've quoted all these posts by Alegrias1 because they are all, IMO, well-made and need to be made, and I can't put the points better myself.

If this happens check with your chemist if you qualify for medical exemption, ie diabetic, cancer and thyroid drugs. If so you will need your GP to sign a form. Also you can get exemption if on certain benefits ie universal credit. All else fails a prescription passport saves money if you need more than 12 scripts a year, don't know exact figures

Yet another Tory attack on those least able to pay and adding to their burdens. Signing the petition is probably a good thing but don't expect change: over 100,000 signing means it will be 'considered' for a debate but that does not mean a debate in the Commons, it means a debate in Westminster Hall which has no legislative effect at all, a real sham in my opinion.

Just signed the petition and passed it on. I am still working at 63 due to pension age changes... I seem to be forever running to catch up with what I need to pay out with less and less coming in

chelseababy

I think it's fair enough if you are still working.

Not if you're a WASPI woman and still working only as a result of having your State Pension age raised from 60 to 66 with next to no notice.

For those who can’t get free prescriptions, because of age, and if they change this, there is a medical exemption certificate, for certain conditions, available. Prescriptions become free.

It’s nothing to do with income or age - just what condition(s) a person may have.

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/medical-exemption-certificates

Oh, and BTW - we pay more income tax too. Myself, quite happily. That doesn't get mentioned often when the English start complaining about discrimination, does it?

Its not discrimination. Really, get the facts right.

We're different countries. Our health services are devolved. We can decide to spend our money any way we like. If you don't like it, write to your MP and tell them you want to be like Wales and Scotland.

A better arrangement would be to charge for prescriptions for under 60s in Wales and Scotland, why discriminate against the English over 60s.

I can't help thinking that what we really need is decent pensions for all, rather than means-tested handouts for poor pensioners. We simply shouldn't have poor pensioners in a rich country.

not everyone over 60 is still working.
carers have to exist on less than £10 a day, and are not entitled to free anything. if under 60 they have to pay for prescriptions.
now seems will have to pay over 60 too.
if when they manage to get a state pension they then lose the carer's allowance, despite continuing the caring role.
it's a great life if you don't weaken.