Prescription charges for the over sixties

valdali

I've just turned 60, are they free for me? I work and I assumed they wouldn't be. Maybe I'll check before just saying "I pay" next time...

The pharmacist will know, as your DOB is on the prescription. Yes, they will be free if you are over 60 - at least unless or until the government decides otherwise.

I've just turned 60, are they free for me? I work and I assumed they wouldn't be. Maybe I'll check before just saying "I pay" next time...

Nobody pays for prescriptions in Wales, it’s a devolved issue so only applies in England.

I think that for some time there will be a gap consisting of women who thought that they were going to retire at 60 and geared up for that, only to find that retirement age is now 67.

It's not just the pension that this group miss out on - it is free admission to 'things', bus passes, discounts and all sorts of other things that our contributions paid for for the generations ahead of us.

Whether or not you (generic) believe that these concessions should have been there in the first place, or whether you as an individual were aware of the change in pension age, and were in a position to plug the gap of 6-7 years of pension, there are a lot of people who weren't, and who were expecting to get them at 60.

There are also people who retired at an age which is now considered 'early', having budgeted around what they expected to have to pay for before deciding to retire. To take away concessions such as free prescriptions could have a life-changing impact on such people.

Also, there is no obvious reason why some conditions allow sufferers to claim all prescriptions free, whether or not the treatment is related to that condition, whilst sufferers from other, equally life-threatening conditions do not get any of them free. People with a thyroid condition, for instance, or diabetes, get free prescriptions for all ailments, whereas people with asthma do not. Inhalers are expensive, and without them asthmatics could die.

The reason over-60s currently don't pay for prescriptions is probably a throwback to when it was the retirement age for women, and because at that age wear and tear on the body starts to kick in. I assume that if this gets means-tested, it will be those on pension credit who qualify, so those above that threshold because they have saved into an occupational pension will miss out yet again.

kittylesater what do you have against pensioners being 'comfortably off' if they have worked all their lives? Isn't being comfortable what we all aim for, and why we save? Younger people are, on the whole, still earning, and saving for their own older age. Those who are old now were young once, and have contributed already. To be 'really pleased' that older people in need of prescriptions will lose out seems not just unkind, but perverse.

Over 60s should not pay for prescriptions, we are liable for tax just like anyone else, those above the personal allowance pay tax on pensions and investments as well as any other income.
Realistically I don’t think they would dare try, it would loose too many votes

Whilst I understand that there are very well off pensioners getting things free that younger people on low incomes have to pay for, the problem is that when charges are introduced they usually hit those of us just above the pension credit level.
I am a widow with a small private pension and having to pay prescriptions and bus fares would be a big hit to my income and there are many like me.

I would happily pay prescription charges. I'm much better off than two of my DC who have to pay.

vampirequeen

It would appear that the over sixties are going to be made to pay for their prescriptions in order to help the NHS cope with the cost of Covid.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/people-over-60-could-hit-24439904?fbclid=IwAR1mycAESpU-8gn8BC2b5yJM9L_FYxRIO1kFus4BHWaThLjlADm01_c7_dE

From the article it is people up to state pension age, not everybody over 60.

And possibly that people already over 60 will not have to start paying.

I have long believed that all these bells and whistles, that are demeaning to older people, suggesting that we cannot manage our budgets unless money is given to us in little protected amounts, should all be rolled up into a one off big increase in the state pension. It would be administerally simpler and cheaper.

You can get season tickets if you take a lot of medications and bus companies would soon introduce a buscard like the Senior Rail Card.

So this is the thin end of the wedge towards privatised health care. Not really a surprise.

Not been decided vampirequeen and there is a consultation available on gov.uk

I have been saying for ages that it is silly that comfortably off older people get free prescriptions , heating allowance, free bus passes and, until recently, free tv licences so I will be really pleased if this comes to pass.

I didn't know prescriptions were free for over 60s in GB. Many over 60s are still employed so I don't understand why theirs are free while younger people pay over £9 per item.
All prescriptions in NI are free. I think it is a mistake and a small charge would be better. Except for those on benefits.