perscriptions

Everyday living
1

Hello group having MS do we get free prescription?

Thank you.

2

Sadly - no! Itā€™s a matter of some contention over the years but the answer keeps coming back as no. Luckily(?!) Iā€™ve just hit 60 so I get them free now but Iā€™ve had years of buying the annual prepayment certificates to keep the cost as low as possible.

3

You can ask your GP to fill in a medical exemption certificate, I work in a pharmacy and some MS customers have these.

4

Prescription Prepayment Certificate is good value for unlimited prescriptions.

The charge for a single prescribed medicine is Ā£8.20, whereas a three-month PPC will cost you Ā£29.10 and a 12-month PPC Ā£104.00.

Jen x

1 Like
5

Wow guys! I live in the south of Ireland and illness like Diabetes and MS are known as Long Term Illness and the necessary related meds are prescribed free of charge. I thought this was standard practice!

6

Barry S,

You qualify for free prescriptions if you are in receipt of certain welfare benefits, pension credits and various other circumstances. All is explained hereā€¦ Who can get free prescriptions - NHS

Ben

1 Like
7

MS is not one of the conditions for which you qualify for exemption. Itā€™s wrong, but true.

Maybe the people whoā€™ve got medical exemption and have MS also have another qualifying condition, eg, underactive thyroid.

I have medical exemption because of my thyroid. The actual condition is listed as myxoedema. Here is the link to the list of qualifying conditions: Medical exemption certificates | NHSBSA

I think itā€™s truly wrong that MS isnā€™t a qualifying condition. The best other solution is a prepayment certificate as jen said.

Or of course if youā€™re in receipt of a qualifying means tested benefit as Ben said.

Sue

8

Sadly, no. But if youā€™re RRMS, youā€™ll get your DMDs without charge via the hospital specialist, and they are way more expensive than pretty much anything else.

Alison

9

Thank you for all your comments.

Barry S

10

Hi, I paid with an annual payment card, until I found out I qualified for free scripts.

This is under the criteria;

you are unable to leave home unaccompanied.

Lots of folk are unaware of this, so will this help you?

pollx

1 Like
11

looks at Benā€™s link

OH! Some Iā€™m entitled to free prescriptions because right now Iā€™m on income based JSA, I didnā€™t know that!

So I might actually do some enquiring about the B12 injection then, the thought of the cost put me off entirely before.

12

Those who are working can apply for the low income scheme. They may get full or partial assistance with prescription costs depending on their income and savings.

If you have a low income, you may be able to get help with NHS costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). The scheme covers:

  • prescription costs
  • dental costs
  • eye care costs
  • healthcare travel costs
  • wigs and fabric supports

You can apply for the scheme as long as your savings, investments or property (not counting the place where you live) donā€™t exceed the capital limit. In England, the limit is:

  • Ā£23,250 for people who live permanently in a care home
  • Ā£16,000 for everyone else

Any help youā€™re entitled to is also available to your partner and any dependent young people.

How to apply

Depending on your circumstances, you can receive ā€œfull helpā€ (HC2 certificate) or ā€œpartial helpā€ (HC3 certificate). You will qualify for full help if your income is less than or equal to your requirements, or is greater than your requirements by no more than half the current English prescription charge. If your income exceeds this limit, you may be entitled to partial help. Your certificate will show how much you have to pay towards your health costs.

13

l have had 33 yrs of PPMS - and l always got my prescription free. And not because of benefits. l have DLA - High rate mobility component. l asked the doctors receptionist for a exemption form. Filled it in - stating l had a ā€˜progressive - incurable illnessā€™ and the GP signed it. Then when l reached 60 l got it free anyway.

So do be firm - and pro-active - and you will get exemption from charges.

14

I did say earlier in in the thread to ask your GP youā€™ve got nothing to lose, mine signed my form and I havenā€™t got other illnesses or on benefits, itā€™s a bit of a lottery as with many things