Change free prescriptions to state pension age?

Bucks

My understanding is you can’t claim pension credit until you are pension age. Before this is universal credit?

That is why it is called Pemsion Credit.

My understanding is you can’t claim pension credit until you are pension age. Before this is universal credit?

I wrote to my local MP suggesting the same and he replied by saying it was a local council decision? really? Still a lost a waste that could be mopped up before they hit fuel allowance. Better housekeeping is required

It would still differentiate between those who need regular drugs and those who don't. And the bus pass going would make little difference to drivers (or to Mick and Keith) but could mean that those just above PC level don't get out much.

If pension credit levels were increased if free prescriptions went, no one on lower incomes would be any worse off. A prescription 'season ticket' costs slightly over £2 a week and covers all your prescriptions, no matter how many you have.

A rise of £3 a week in PCwould do it. I would just get a season ticket and my pension is sufficient to absorb it. This applied to about 75% of all pensioners.

SueDoku

Ilovecheese

I would rather this Government took something away from millionaires and billionaires, rather than people in need of medication.

This.

We will be told that millionaires and billionaires "pay a huge amount of tax already" - and in order for you / us to be put firmly in our place - that money helps to fund our public services, give us jobs, etc.

Obviously, they pay tax, and obviously compared to the rest of us - it's a large sum - that's after they've decided how to receive their income in order to minimise their tax burden.

For example, a wealthy business owner can choose to pay himself dividends rather than a wage.

They can also allow the value of an asset to accrue prior to selling it because 'unrealised' capital gains are usually not taxed - another method the they use to build up wealth and avoid tax.

There are many ways in which these millionaires and billionaires can make sure they are under-taxed.

Then of course we will be told that if we make them pay more tax, they will just move to another low-tax country, taking their businesses with them and setting up shop somewhere else, creating further unemployment.

Proportionally the rich often end up paying less tax on their income and wealth than the average person.

So it's not going to happen. After all, who has the clout to make sure their income is protected? The wealthy elite - or pensioners just above the pension credit limit?

And, not only that. Most - or many - people seem to think that this is the natural order of things, they accept the inequality between rich and poor... that's life they say with a shrug.

Anyone who questions this inequality is thought of as a socialist, hard-left, or even a communist - and often accused of simply being envious. Well, I'm not any of these, but I do question why...

By 2023, the richest 50 families in the UK held more wealth than half of the UK population, comprising 33.5 million people. If the wealth of the super rich continues to grow at the rate it has been, by 2035, the wealth of the richest 200 families will be larger than the whole UK GDP.
(Source: The Equality Trust)

Some people in real need will not get the meds that will keep them out of hospital so it sounds like a false economy.

Me too. I have asthma, and not having to pay for inhalers saved me a fortune. I never understood why asthmatics don’t get free prescriptions when sufferers from other conditions do. Asthma kills.

Ilovecheese

I would rather this Government took something away from millionaires and billionaires, rather than people in need of medication.

This.

MissAdventure

I think it is too complex to work out fairly, really.

I'm thinking that whilst cancer meds are free, lots of people are left with health issues caused by the cancer, or the chemo.
There will be people who are on the cusp, with regards to free prescriptions, and people who have far worse problems than pensioners.

It is unworkable, and I'm not convinced any savings would be worth it.

Totally agree with you.

some of the medications I take are for diabetes which is exempt. It always struck me as unfair that I also got everything else free, such as antibiotics if I had an infection, even if it was not connected to my underlying conditions. I would not have objected to paying for them.

I agree with jocork. I've never paid a prescription charge as I'm exempt because I have diabetes. Of course it may be more expensive to differentiate between drugs necessary for a long term condition and others, but it always seems unfair that I also get everything else free.

Leonoral and Babs
All very true. It is incredibly hard for the people who are having to work years longer than they should be.

Leonora1

As a 62 year old I really appreciate my free prescriptions. At one time I would have been in receipt of my state pension and also had free bus travel. Our generation already have to work longer, for me 7 years than the previous generation. Please don't penalise us anymore than the government already has.

Well said.
People are having to wait ever longer for their pension. Before too long will be 68 and by the time my grown kids retire will be in the seventies. And though many people may be healthier and live longer not all do, heart disease, strokes, and cancer levels are increasing not decreasing, but people will be forced to work despite ill health in order to pay their bills with no help from a pension, add to that paying for meds.

As a 62 year old I really appreciate my free prescriptions. At one time I would have been in receipt of my state pension and also had free bus travel. Our generation already have to work longer, for me 7 years than the previous generation. Please don't penalise us anymore than the government already has.

Those words are not oxymorons. There are quite a number of wealthy pensioners. Currently average pensioner household income is around £600 a week and the median is about £500.

The median is the figure at which an equal number of pensioners have an income below that figure and above it. So half of all pensioner households have an income in excess of £500 a week, and the size of the incomes of those receiving more than £500 is sufficient to bring the average (total of all incomes divided by number of pensioners) up to around £600 a week.

So if we take £750 a week, roughly £3,250 a month as 'wealthy there are a lot of wealthy pensioners. The highest pension among my friends, that I know of is in excess of £70,000 a year.

You also need to remember that many of today's pensioners had parents who were home owners and, as only 1 person in 10 ends up in a care home, and many people are living into their 90s, many people receive a, possibly, large capital inheritance as or during retirement.

My surviving parent died when i was 64 and, at 81, I have two aunts still living, both aged 97, neither in care. There children are all in their 70s.

Open any Sunday paper and see the number of cruises advertised at prices that start at £1,000 and then spiral upwards. Most cruisers are over retirement age.

Yes, without a doubt, there are many poor pensioners, by poor I mean struggling to manage, It is estimated that 10% of pensioners are in real poverty.

It is right that we should concentrate concern for those pensioners in poverty and the group just above poverty level. But that should not blind us to the effect that the majority of pensioners are not in poverty can enjoy a comfortable living style and some are, yes, very wealthy indeed.

The terms "wealthy pensioners" and "well-off pensioners" keep cropping up and both are perfect oxymorons.

Where the government should be looking for saving money is the billions, yes billions, they spend supporting illegal immigrants. Together with money other I am very open about being very angry about it.

Dickens

Doodledog

I could get behind paying for them until retirement age, but never means-testing health.

How would that work? Someone who's worked all their life being unable to afford medicine that is free to someone who hasn't? A bullying husband (or wife, parent, child) refusing to pay for another member of the household who can't get them free as the household income exceeds the cut-off? Someone on more than one prescription having to decide which one to cash in based on cost? People putting off going to the doctor because they know they can't afford whatever they'll be prescribed?

Put more on tax by all means, so that everyone gets free (or cheap) prescriptions. Cut the number of things that can be prescribed, so people pay for OTC medicines. Consider a set fee regardless of number of items. There are various ways to cut costs, but never means-test life-saving drugs.

Well said Doodledog.

I'd also add that there should be a 'ceiling' to the payments, otherwise very sick people with chronic conditions will be penalised.

... or maybe a set fee, as you suggest.

In Norway, everyone pays both to see a doctor, and for some prescriptions - but, there is a limit to the amount they pay. After that limit is reached, they are re-ibursed.

However, it should be noted that most Norwegians are on good wages - unlike here.

In practice there is a ceiling - ie the prescription prepayment charge if you choose to pay it.

I'm someone who got free prescriptions before I was 60 as some of the medications I take are for diabetes which is exempt. It always struck me as unfair that I also got everything else free, such as antibiotics if I had an infection, even if it was not connected to my underlying conditions. I would not have objected to paying for them.

In the same way my mother was exempt from prescription charges and said the same thing. She also said she heard someone in the pharmacy asking the pharmacist which of her prescribed items was most important as she couldn't afford them all! That was many years ago, soon after prescription charges were introduced in the 80s. Sadly many people struggle to pay prescription charges for occasional items which are often an unexpected expense at a time when you are feeling unwell and may even be losing earnings due to being too ill to work. Obviously those who need regular medication need to use a prepayment certificate if they can afford the upfront charge.

At one time I had two exemption cards to use at the pharmacy - one because I was medically exempt and the other because I was on a means tested benefit. I was concerned when they expired and were not replaced, but then found it was because I had reached 60 so I got prescriptions free anyway!

EEJit

So you believe that all medication upto pension age should be paid for, although someone mentioned Hrt and asthma.

What about a person of 63 for example that has just received a transplant and requires 3 different anti-rejection drugs? Should they have to wait and hope the transplanted organ is not rejected.

Unless your are doctors, none of you have any idea what drugs should and should not be paid for, and for what reason, and at what age.

Long term illness you can pay an annual exemption under 60. A few years ago it was £120 for everything.

Nannan2

Scotland dont need a 'devolved parliament' if theyre still part of UK- nor different taxes-or your own Scottish laws, if you want to be free of our 'rules' then i agree that they should have made you a separate country- but while you arent then you should be same as us in all respects- either that or let us have same benefits.How are we a united kingdom if all of us have different rules/payments for everything?

Scotland, Wales and NI have devolved parliaments, which I think is a good thing, these are each imho countries within the UK that historically have a different language/culture/traditions.
This reduces the risk to the UK of a country like Scotland seeking independence which would be detrimental to The Union.

Scotland dont need a 'devolved parliament' if theyre still part of UK- nor different taxes-or your own Scottish laws, if you want to be free of our 'rules' then i agree that they should have made you a separate country- but while you arent then you should be same as us in all respects- either that or let us have same benefits.How are we a united kingdom if all of us have different rules/payments for everything?

None of the English GP's are supposed to be prescribing ANY item thats an over the counter item now, not even the more expensive ones except as a one- off in special circumstance- they prescribed Nurofen meltlets as a once only for son who cant swallow any other painkillers/tablets- but were quite annoyed and made it clear it was once only, and only while he had abdominal pain investigated.Yet other 'united kingdom' countries get a lot of things for free!- it makes my blood boil.Why not recoup some cash for gov't by making all the other countries pay as well? And for their Uni education as well? Either that or let England have it all free as well? Why should we be the only ones paying up?It certainly might get the gov't a good bit of cash in the pot if they make ALL pay.Make it fair.

Looked at Jude.Is soy germ supplement same as soya? Cause im not allowed that either.

I missed that Elegran, just read it. That would seem the most sensible thing if it’s viable for Scotland, or at least let us know why not. Horses for courses!

All English people should get prescriptions free like the rest of the UK