Change free prescriptions to state pension age?

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.

There's no way that many people would be able to do that, I certainly couldn't pay up front and claim it back! I struggle having to do it for the vets, I have to borrow the excess as it is!

Some of my working friends have to wait until payday to get their prescriptions, despite earning decent wages.

singingnutty

I don't agree that those on a State Pension should pay for prescriptions. I haven't read all the posts on this thread so I don't know what percentage are of this opinion. However, it has been suggested that medication should be less easily prescribed. I agree with that. When I saw a GP with back pain I was prescribed loads of really strong pain-killers which I did not need because he didn't have time to ask me more about what might be causing the pain. That's just one instance of course, but it must be repeated millions of times every year.

Exactly this - imagine having to have 24 surgeries causing loads of different health conditions (24 of them that flare up at different times), and each time you get a new symptom, someone doesn't have the time to sort anything alternative out, they just give you an even stronger of more medications.

This is me ... 6 pages of medications attached to prescriptions. Thank heavens they are free to me!

No! I'm 63 and have worked full time for most of my adult life, much of it as a single parent. I work in local government so I'm hardly well off and am struggling with health issues currently. The free prescription is the only concession I get and I'd be furious if this was taken away!

Davisuz

No! I'm 63 and have worked full time for most of my adult life, much of it as a single parent. I work in local government so I'm hardly well off and am struggling with health issues currently. The free prescription is the only concession I get and I'd be furious if this was taken away!

Exactly.
And I presume you retire at 67?

No way! There are far more easier things to do than cut medication on prescription.

Totally agree with you I worked till
I was 69 so had free prescriptions for 9
Years whilst still earning , it is crazy , combine it with state pension age and the money they will save will be enormous

There is nothing to stop people who can manage without free prescriptions from not ticking the box and providing proof they're exempt.
I doubt many people did that, though.

MissAdventure

There is nothing to stop people who can manage without free prescriptions from not ticking the box and providing proof they're exempt.
I doubt many people did that, though.

I've never had to tick box or provide proof once I reached 60. Your date of birth is on the prescription which is proof enough.
Would anyone volunteer to pay? I don't think so.

Well, there is a box to tick to cover why you're exempt.
Have you never filled that part in?

To get medical exemption you need to fill in a form which is signed by your GP. You then get a card to show. I expect that you could not bother with this and pay if you wanted to.

MissAdventure

Well, there is a box to tick to cover why you're exempt.
Have you never filled that part in?

No, because I get my prescriptions online.

When I worked in a pharmacy I'd do it on the person's behalf as it was unnecessary for them to prove anything once they were over 60.

I don't think free prescriptions in Wales has improved anything at all, the NHS here is atrocious.

Oh yes, I see now.
I'm a spring chicken, you see.

this was proposed a few years ago by Boris Johnson's government. There was a feedback survey . Obviously the outcome did not change the age limit. Generally people who have a long term need such as diabetes, thyroid etc should have free prescriptions but why should a person who has an income of over £30k a year get free prescriptions when a working couple (who may not earn that much between them) have to pay?

MissAdventure

There is nothing to stop people who can manage without free prescriptions from not ticking the box and providing proof they're exempt.
I doubt many people did that, though.

I've thought about that 'option'.

I'm not sure which segment the money allocated to the NHS covers free prescriptions, but I did wonder where it would end up if I didn't tick the box. I mean, if many of us did that - would it all stay in the 'pot' so to speak and ease the next Quarter's budget sort of thing, leaving a surplus which the government would remove - you know, like they do when departments have to spend-up their allocated budget, otherwise it's redirected back to the treasury to be spent on, well, who knows?

I honestly think that if people believed this money was going directly to one of the NHS front-line services - more people (me included at one time) would tick the box. As it is, it just seems like a rather futile gesture - who's going to benefit from it?

Anyway, now that my partner has complex diseases that require medication that will give him a reasonable, if short, further quality of life - and me, after 2 cancer diagnoses resulting in multiple surgeries, and similar amounts of medication to keep me functioning as his carer - neither of us, at 82, can afford this gesture

I'm just thinking out loud MissAdventure .

What do you think?

No don’t agree with charging pensioners for prescriptions - slippery slope

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.

No, free prescriptions are very useful to me, I have repeat prescriptions every couple of months. Let those Jack's who can afford it or don't agree with it just pay for theirs, simple.
I really dislike it when people who can afford it want things stopped for the many, especially those who are just a couple of pounds over pension credit, who will be worse of not getting the consessions.

For pension credit.

I think stopping free prescriptions in Scotland and Wales would result in a generally more poorly population, and I think women would suffer the most. Personally, I would need to go without my meds in order to feed my children, pay for school uniforms and have the heating on.

Totally agree !!! OR better still adopt the regime I lived under in France ….pay a medical insurance fee every month …. Would help fund the NHS …PLUS all these new drugs people expect to get free the minute they are announced !!! Ok …. Doubtless people will as usual bleat about paying NI all their working lives (and if Revell has her way pensioners soon be paying NI again !!) … but it is simply not enough to cover an aging population….. the original idea of cradle to grave cover was in an era when life expectancy was around 60 years …..needs a thorough rent y INDEPENDENT bodies !😡

Women having opinions is not 'bleating'.

As it happens I largely agree with what you say, but the dismissive way you write off those who don't is unpleasant. Also, why the !! if you think complaining about paying NI is 'bleating'? I pay NI, and don't mind, but I do object to those who opt out of working basically opting out of paying towards anything. There should be a universal tax and universal benefits.

How about a set £1 fee for every prescription regardless of number of items. For everyone!
It would save on administrative costs, checking who’s entitled to free etc.
But then I guess that initial fee would be increased in every budget we have.

Here in Wales, there is no charge for prescriptions. Nobody pays anything and there are no parking charges at hospitals either. But the Welsh NHS is in an even worse state than England, partly because we have a larger older population. I am a Labour supporter but feel that there should be a nominal charge for prescriptions for those who can afford it.