Prescription charges for the over sixties

It should probably all be linked to state pension age. When you start receiving your SP, you would qualify for free prescriptions, bus passes and so on. The assumption being that up to then you are still working.

growstuff

Whitewavemark2

The pharmacists say that every day they get asked by people which medicines can they possibly do without in order to lesson the charge.

That seems very wrong to me, and I sincerely hope that the government put in mitigation to help those on a lower income, if they push ahead with this scheme, although at present it is only suggested that charges are to be made up to 66.

There is a scheme for people on a low income, which is currently set at something over £14,000 a year (not sure of the actual figure).

i'd never herd of this.
is it printed on the back of the prescription form ?
someone above said that people under 60 who are not working due to looking after others who are ill/disabled, do not pay for prescriptions.
this is incorrect. they do have to pay.
it is only those in receipt of means tested benefits who get free prescriptions, under 60.
so the others, eg carers, have to live on £67 a week.
until they get state retirement pension. then the carers' allowance is withdrawn.

You’re lucky. We have to pay though it is reduced after you turn 65. I think in most countries you would have to pay. Sense of entitlement going on here.

Whitewavemark2

The pharmacists say that every day they get asked by people which medicines can they possibly do without in order to lesson the charge.

That seems very wrong to me, and I sincerely hope that the government put in mitigation to help those on a lower income, if they push ahead with this scheme, although at present it is only suggested that charges are to be made up to 66.

There is a scheme for people on a low income, which is currently set at something over £14,000 a year (not sure of the actual figure).

*If someone chooses not to work, they should (IMO) be charged a regular contribution - perhaps paid for by their partner, or out of whatever other funding allows them to afford not to work.

IMO it is not fair to have a system that compels someone on minimum wage to contribute when someone better off can just 'opt out' of paying tax, and 'opt in' to the NHS etc. Everyone should contribute unless they are unable to, in which case they should be treated exactly as though they have paid in.*

You're somewhat confused about this issue.

Doodldog The people of working age who choose not to work because they don't want to (maybe they don't have to or just have some other reason) could only receive benefits if they are prepared to be subjected to means testing and work capability tests. They would have to invent some reason for not working (ie lie). If they're not prepared to do that, they won't receive benefits and, therefore, won't be eligible for free prescriptions. It really isn't as you originally claimed.

Whitewavemark2

The pharmacists say that every day they get asked by people which medicines can they possibly do without in order to lesson the charge.

That seems very wrong to me, and I sincerely hope that the government put in mitigation to help those on a lower income, if they push ahead with this scheme, although at present it is only suggested that charges are to be made up to 66.

Well I hope that that Pharmacist gives them the information they need to claim help through the NHS low income scheme its a means tested scheme but helps with prescription and dental costs for people not on benefits but have a low income.
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme

Obviously the reason why free prescriptions start at 60 is that it hasn't been changed since women's pension age was 60 and to meet the equality act men could get certain concessions that pension age women got such as free prescriptions, bus passes and pension credit

The pharmacists say that every day they get asked by people which medicines can they possibly do without in order to lesson the charge.

That seems very wrong to me, and I sincerely hope that the government put in mitigation to help those on a lower income, if they push ahead with this scheme, although at present it is only suggested that charges are to be made up to 66.

I pay for a prescription card, is about 100 pounds and as they say, all you can eat!

nadateturbe

Doodledog I'm not sure how the system operates as I live in NI, but I was under the impression that if you were of working age and not claiming benefits you had to pay for prescriptions.
It just seems logical that if people are paying it should be all those working and not just under 60s. And stop paying when you retire.
Kali yes often £9 is very little compared to the actual cost, but it's still a lot of money for many people. Much too high imo. And there are times when the actual cost is less than £9.

Sorry - to answer your question, yes, in England, if you are not claiming benefits (or suffering from particular conditions) you pay for prescriptions whether you are paying tax or not. Most people do pay, at least until they are 60.

Not everyone not working is retired, though. Some of those not working will be in receipt of benefits (eg the unemployed, those too ill to work and at least some of those who can't work work because they are caring for others who are ill), so won't pay for prescriptions, rightly, IMO. There may be other groups that I have overlooked, but the same would apply if they are not working because they are unable to do so.

I am asking about those who are not working because they choose not to. You say if people are paying it should be all those working and not just under 60s. And stop paying when you retire, which excludes this group, and I was just asking whether you think that they should pay or not, (whether they are older or younger than 60), or should they still get prescriptions free, as you imply? What about those who can't afford to retire and continue to work until 70+? Should they continue to pay both tax and prescription charges when others don't?

I agree that £9 is a lot for many people to find, particularly when some conditions require multiple prescriptions. Even a pre-paid 'season ticket' is a lot for someone on minimum wage. and it seems to me unfair that someone in this situation should have to pay when others don't.

I know I am always banging this drum, but if we all (individually) paid more tax we could all get things like prescriptions free, and there could be a better education system and higher pensions for everyone.

If someone chooses not to work, they should (IMO) be charged a regular contribution - perhaps paid for by their partner, or out of whatever other funding allows them to afford not to work.

IMO it is not fair to have a system that compels someone on minimum wage to contribute when someone better off can just 'opt out' of paying tax, and 'opt in' to the NHS etc. Everyone should contribute unless they are unable to, in which case they should be treated exactly as though they have paid in.

Thanks growstuff.

growstuff

Doodledog

nadateturbe

I can see no reason why those over 60 who haven't reached retirement age and are still working shouldn't pay, just as those under 60 do.
But I do think £9 is far too much per item.

What about people who are not working? There are a lot of people who choose not to work (and I don't mean the unemployed, or those looking after the sick) but still claim the things that others have paid into the system to provide. Should they get free prescriptions when they are 60, whilst those who have worked all their lives continue to pay?

Which things do they claim? People have to be in receipt of certain benefits to claim other freebies?

Pensions, free Oyster cards, prescriptions, health care, education, etc etc.

I am not saying that they should or shouldn't - just questioning why nadaturbe thinks that those over 60 who are working should pay, and wondering whether she also thinks that those who are not working should also pay.

nadateturbe

Doodledog I'm not sure how the system operates as I live in NI, but I was under the impression that if you were of working age and not claiming benefits you had to pay for prescriptions.
It just seems logical that if people are paying it should be all those working and not just under 60s. And stop paying when you retire.
Kali yes often £9 is very little compared to the actual cost, but it's still a lot of money for many people. Much too high imo. And there are times when the actual cost is less than £9.

You are correct.

Doodledog

nadateturbe

I can see no reason why those over 60 who haven't reached retirement age and are still working shouldn't pay, just as those under 60 do.
But I do think £9 is far too much per item.

What about people who are not working? There are a lot of people who choose not to work (and I don't mean the unemployed, or those looking after the sick) but still claim the things that others have paid into the system to provide. Should they get free prescriptions when they are 60, whilst those who have worked all their lives continue to pay?

Which things do they claim? People have to be in receipt of certain benefits to claim other freebies?

Doodledog I'm not sure how the system operates as I live in NI, but I was under the impression that if you were of working age and not claiming benefits you had to pay for prescriptions.
It just seems logical that if people are paying it should be all those working and not just under 60s. And stop paying when you retire.
Kali yes often £9 is very little compared to the actual cost, but it's still a lot of money for many people. Much too high imo. And there are times when the actual cost is less than £9.

Charges for things do sometimes get changed “ mid stream” I had reduced fare on our local ferry aged 60. 2 years later they changed it to state pension age so I had to relinquish the reduction and go back to full fare as my state pension age is 2 years away

nadateturbe

I can see no reason why those over 60 who haven't reached retirement age and are still working shouldn't pay, just as those under 60 do.
But I do think £9 is far too much per item.

One problem is that people in the UK have NO idea whatsoever of the price of the drugs they are being prescribed. If you knew, you probably would not say that £9 is a lot.

I’m an old person and certainly not comfortably off ?

nadateturbe

I can see no reason why those over 60 who haven't reached retirement age and are still working shouldn't pay, just as those under 60 do.
But I do think £9 is far too much per item.

What about people who are not working? There are a lot of people who choose not to work (and I don't mean the unemployed, or those looking after the sick) but still claim the things that others have paid into the system to provide. Should they get free prescriptions when they are 60, whilst those who have worked all their lives continue to pay?

doodledog did you deliberately misunderstand my post?

Er, no. Why do you think that? I went off the words you wrote.

I can see no reason why those over 60 who haven't reached retirement age and are still working shouldn't pay, just as those under 60 do.
But I do think £9 is far too much per item.

I worked full-time for all my adult life. Part of the taxes I paid gave certain 'perks' to pensioners in both my grandparents' and my parents' generations eg my gran lived her latter years in council-run sheltered housing with meals-on-wheels available. My generation get the worst state pension in W Europe, a massive hike in state pension age over a short period of time, loss of widows' pensions as we knew it, cash-starved councils withdrawing previous support for the elderly, NHS dentistry in disarray etc. The list goes on, and it will get worse. Sorry, but to me, this seems very unfair.

doodledog did you deliberately misunderstand my post?

I have nothing against pensioners being comfortably off. DH and I are comfortably off pensioners and I don't think we should be given all sorts of free stuff when there are more deserving people of whatever age.

Over 60's in England get free prescriptions and free eye tests.
Yet Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland get free prescriptions what ever age you are.
Not all over 60's are comfortable off.

Thanks Doodledog, good to know there are some still some concessions even if only temporary