News that the rules around free prescriptions could be changed as soon as April has been met with a wave of criticism.
Last year, the Government consulted on plans to lift the qualifying age for free prescriptions in England from 60 to age 66, bringing it in line with the State Pension age. It argued that many people aged from 60 to 65 remain in employment, so can therefore afford to meet the cost.
The Government's consultation on the changes closed on September 3 and the Department of Health and Social Care has said it will respond “in due course”.
Financial experts believe this radical change will come into effect as soon as April for the next financial year.
There are also fears that the current prescription charge of £9.35 could be hiked.
Prescription Charges Coalition chair Laura Cockram is battling moves to make the over 60s pay for NHS prescriptions, warning of “the dire impact of the proposals on those living with health conditions”.
Age UK has called plans to end free NHS prescriptions for the over 60s in England a "bitter pill to swallow for millions”.
The move to axe free prescriptions is causing confusion over who will still be eligible for their medicine charges to be waived. It also comes amid a host of household budget increases including energy bills, council tax, National Insurance and petrol costs.
Let us know what you feel about the propose changes in our survey via this link or below:
Who can get free prescriptions
The NHS says you can currently get free prescriptions if you:
- are 60 or over (though this looks set to go up in April)
- are under 16
- are 16 to 18 and in full-time education
- are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
- have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- are an NHS inpatient
Let us know your feelings in the comments section.
Which benefits qualify for free prescriptions?
As well as the above criteria, you are also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner receive:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit - if you had zero earnings or had net earnings of £435 or less in your last assessment period; your payment includes an element for a child; or you (or your partner) had limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA), and either had no earnings or net earnings of £935 or less in your last assessment period
You will also not pay medicine charges if you are under the age of 20 and are the dependant of someone receiving the above state benefits.
Free prescriptions may also be available to those receiving Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits. Specifically, you would need to be named on:
- a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate – if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice. You qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
- a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
Those receiving Personal Independence Payment - a benefit for long-term health problems and disabilities - do not automatically qualify for free prescriptions. But there are specific medical conditions that will make you eligible for avoiding medication charges.
In those cases, you would need to be issued with a medical exemption certificate. You would need to ask your doctor for an FP92A form to apply for a certificate, which lasts five years.
The NHS says medical exemption certificates are issued if you have:
- cancer, including the effects of cancer or the effects of current or previous cancer treatment
- a permanent fistula (for example, a laryngostomy, colostomy, ileostomy or some renal dialysis fistulas) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
- a form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism
- diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone
- hypoparathyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- myxoedema (hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement)
- epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy
- a continuing physical disability that means you cannot go out without the help of another person (temporary disabilities do not count, even if they last for several months)
You can see a full breakdown of the NHS guidelines on free prescriptions here.
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