Change free prescriptions to state pension age?

It used to be 20p for a prescription when I first started paying. I can't remember whether that was a flat fee or per item, as I rarely needed them in those halcyon days.

When I was a young wife in the 70s and 80s I was living hand to mouth and often left my regular prescriptions unfilled because I simply couldn’t afford to pay for them. I hate to think of others being in the same boat now. 😥

Doodledog

It used to be 20p for a prescription when I first started paying. I can't remember whether that was a flat fee or per item, as I rarely needed them in those halcyon days.

Yes but when you started working you probably earned £5 a week.

Oh, I wasn't saying it was cheap or expensive (my first pay packet was £16 a week before offtakes in 1976 ). I was saying I couldn't remember whether that was for 1 item or more. Probably not very clearly.

I was under the impression NI was meant to cover NHS and Pension needs, for a long time we have been robbing current workers to pay our pensions.
None of us have paid close to the cost ourselves, something has to change, we have to protect those that can’t pay, the rest of us must pay more.

Some pensioners are only a couple of pounds over the pension credit limit. Others can't get a job as employers are quite ageist. This is a terrible idea as some will go without seeing GP because of cost of medicines. Not everyone just has 1 item every now and again

For those of you complaining about free prescriptions for people living in Scotland can I just say that firstly, we have a devolved parliament and can therefore decide for ourselves where our money is spent. I'm pleased that my taxes are used for free prescriptions, free university fees and free travel for those under 23 and over 60.
Secondly, there are 6 tax bands here and we pay more in tax than people living in England, particularly those on higher incomes. Maybe England should adopt our way of taxation 🤔 Just a thought.

In Scotland all prescriptions are free no matter age. Been the system for a good number of years. Apparently, as advised by Scot Gov at the time of introduction the vost of administration outweighed the cost of the prescriptions. I was amazed that when going to buy hayfever meds (usually buy at supermarkets) there was no charge. Never hear any queries about the cost. Maybe whole of UK should look at the cost of systems although perhaps Scot Gov is frightened to reintroduce charges as they'd lose even the 9 MPs they have.

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.

That's so very true.

sazz1

Some pensioners are only a couple of pounds over the pension credit limit. Others can't get a job as employers are quite ageist. This is a terrible idea as some will go without seeing GP because of cost of medicines. Not everyone just has 1 item every now and again

This is certainly true.

MissAdventure

My gp won't prescribe anything that can be bought.

Do you mean like paracetamol or aspirin.....or more expensive OTC stuff? ....I have a few OTC items on repeat....would add up if I had to pay for them

Anything that can be bought.
He's quite mercenary.

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

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!

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.