Change free prescriptions to state pension age?

Agree, although I’ve benefited from this for quite a while!

Agree, although I think asthma and Hrt meds should be free.

I agree.
I’m very rarely ill, but was amazed to get a free prescription when I was 62 and working full time. I wrongly thought then that it was free from State Pension age.

I agree - for all medication, once you start having exceptions it all gets too complicated and every one says their drug is 'special'

If you need a lot of medication you can get a presciption 'season ticket'. £32 for 3 months, £114.50 a year and a special rate for HRT www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/save-money-with-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc/

I agree too. I’ve always thought there should be a charge for all (with a few exceptions) if only to raise the issue of how much the meds actually cost.
I’ve a friend who abuses the system - I’ll say no more, but I think paying something would have an effect.

We must not follow the US model.
People there are paying a lot for medication and choosing to miss some out if they have no money.

Everyone's life is valuable.

I think people would end up trying to cut down on meds to save costs, so no, I don't agree with it.

No, I agree with MissAdventure

NotSpaghetti

We must not follow the US model.
People there are paying a lot for medication and choosing to miss some out if they have no money.

Everyone's life is valuable.

I don’t think anyone’s contemplating following the US model, where AFAIK you pay full price for medications - or your expensive insurance does. From all I gather, the NHS prescription charge is very modest compared to what people across the pond have to pay even for a relatively everyday antibiotic.

No we are already being battered enough.

Prescriptions are free in Wales. I think this was a preventative measure as many people couldn't afford the cost so wouldn't pay for the treatment. This resulted in more hospital admissions for more serious illness.
I don't know if the free prescriptions has saved the NHS money over time balanced against less people needing time in hospital.

It will batter the poorest off, and those who could claim pension credits but choose not to.

Once you hit 60 your GP wants to put you on Statins, BP tablets and all sorts of vaccinations. I think the exemption is an age thing rather than affordability.
GPs are businesses and I'm sure over 60s are a large percentage of their income.

Would it include cancer patients, having to pay for their meds, or those with long term, chronic illness?

MissAdventure

I think people would end up trying to cut down on meds to save costs, so no, I don't agree with it.

But they could get a season ticket that would cover all their meds and would only cost them just over £2 a week.

MissAdventure

It will batter the poorest off, and those who could claim pension credits but choose not to.

This idea doesn't affect pensioners, only those between 60 and state pension age.

If people choose not to claim Pension Credit, then that is their choice. It is available to them. I would define doing that as cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Monica £2 a week for some pensioners is a vast sum, particularly those who are above the pension credit threshold by a few pennies (and yes it is that fine )

So would I.

I'm a bit slow on the uptake today; struggling manfully to contribute to threads when my brain is ten steps behind.

The pension thing... just forget I said that.

The pension thing... just forget I said that.

GrannyGravy13

Monica £2 a week for some pensioners is a vast sum, particularly those who are above the pension credit threshold by a few pennies (and yes it is that fine )

But this idea doesn't affect pensioners! Only those between 60 and state pension age. See my post immediately above yours.

M0nica

GrannyGravy13

Monica £2 a week for some pensioners is a vast sum, particularly those who are above the pension credit threshold by a few pennies (and yes it is that fine )

But this idea doesn't affect pensioners! Only those between 60 and state pension age. See my post immediately above yours.

Sorry M0nica you are of course correct in regard to pensioners.

I am just rather concerned that we seem to be in a spiral of takeaways at the moment.

I would rather have a Government that was upfront with the electorate and didn’t hang on to the myth of household economics as its excuse for all and sundry.

If they want to bring it home to people the actual cost of their medications, maybe the answer to that is to automatically print the up-to-date cost onto each prescription, clearly crossed out like this if the patient is over SP age and qualifies for free prescriptions. That would mean that everyone is aware of how much they their subsidised medication would have cost them, whether they are paying NHS rates or nothing. Anyone with a pet knows how much a vet's prescription costs!

The alternative for individuals is to move to Scotland (or Wales).

People with cancer or kidney disease, to name just two, would die.

If hospital meds were exempt, then people would be trundling off to A and E to get what they needed.

I was surprised to receive free prescriptions at 60 while I was working full time, until 65. At that age I didn't need permanent prescriptions such as statins, just an occasional course of anti-biotics until I hit my seventies.