Prescription exemption certificate

[sammi4688]

Basically got myself into a little bit of a muddle.
I used to be in receipt of tax credits, so had a medical exemption card, I don't qualify for tax credits anymore so I don't get the exemption card. I have never been told since being diabetic (11 years) that there is another certificate I need. So I got a penalty charge for not having the correct certificate when I collected my prescription. I sent an email and a phone call apologising, explaining I hand on heart was not aware I needed this certificate and had I known this would have had it in place a long time ago. They have said I need to pay my prescriptions until it comes through. The dilemma I'm left in is I am due my prescription and they usually give me 5 boxes of insulin, a box of Metformin and a few boxes of test strips (luckily I don't need the strips) but if it's £9 an item I'm looking at having to pay £54; which I'm not in a position to pay. They have said I can request a refund form that will pay me back any prescriptions I've paid for but I still do not have the money to pay the prescription and the request a refund that will no doubt take ages to get back to me.
Had anyone been in this position? I have people telling me not to pay it and to refuse, but I'm abit scared of what will happen of the back of that.....any comments welcome.

 

[Pipp]

@sammi4688 I hope this info in the link below will be of use.
It seems that as long as you have applied for an exemption certificate before you pay for your prescription items, as long as you get a receipt you can claim the money back.
Also, are you sure that the cost will be £54? If you don’t need the test strips ask the pharmacist to leave that off for now. Then you will pay the prescription charge of £9 for the Metformin, regardless of how many packs of that are on the script. Likewise, if your prescription is for just one type of insulin that will only cost £9 forthe 5 boxes.
Ok, I understand £18 can be a lot if you are on a tight budget, but hope you can find a way to pay it and claim back.
I would not advise just refusing to pay. Before you could argue you were unaware, but now you do know I doubt you would be treated leniently if you ‘fraudulently’ claim exemption before you have the necessary certificate ofexemption.
Ludicrous as it seems, (you are not suddenly going to be able to do without insulin) you have to renew that every 5 years.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-prescriptions.html

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @sammi4688 ,

Some good advice from my former moderating colleague @Pipp , (who has also reminded me my card runs out in the new year, 2020.)

The irony is, you were entitled to a standard med exempt cert from the beginning..
It can be quite common for HCPs to forget to inform about the "card." It was pretty much a "given" back in my day, due to the type of condition & the meds involved? Most pharmacists just knew & pointed you to the med excemption box to tick on the back of the ticket & let it go?
I do remember a lot of topics five years ago from T1s, where some members were also caught out & fined for not having the card whilst sighting for meds. Which prompted me to get one. I didn't even know at the time..

I seriously wouldn't try to fight the "system."
Possibly you could see if your surgery could have a "word" with your chemist to let you have enough medication till your card comes through.. You may even have an "old school" GP un awair of this formality & pull some strings for you..?
From memory (nearly 5 years back.) my NHS exempt card came through pretty quick..

Wishing you all the best.

 

[EllieM]

When I left the UK in 1999 I didn't possess an exemption certificate and had never paid for a prescription in my life, due to being diagnosed T1 in childhood. I remember reading about a large number of T1 diabetics who were caught by the new ruling because they had been told that there exemption was for life when diagnosed, and no one ever told them that they needed an exemption certificate when they were introduced.

I believe the UK diabetes.org.uk site has more info on this. I suggest you ask on there, as I believe they were instrumental on getting lots of fines scrapped.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/helpline

Good luck.

 

[Jaylee]

When I left the UK in 1999 I didn't possess an exemption certificate and had never paid for a prescription in my life, due to being diagnosed T1 in childhood. I remember reading about a large number of T1 diabetics who were caught by the new ruling because they had been told that there exemption was for life when diagnosed, and no one ever told them that they needed an exemption certificate when they were introduced.

I believe the UK diabetes.org.uk site has more info on this. I suggest you ask on there, as I believe they were instrumental on getting lots of fines scrapped.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/helpline

Good luck.

Strangely, I don't think (in my own experience.) some of the smaller "indie" dispensing chemists are still aware of this?
& still have the mindset of "insulin + test stuff + needles = exempt." Tick box...

Certainly at my local, & the ASDA I get my Libres from. I've probably flashed the card twice in the 5 years I've had one.
The second time? was to back up my VAT excemption with the Libre. They realy weren't that interested & initially took me on my word. Giving a form to fill.

 

[Diakat]

There is more attention being paid these days, ads on radio etc about not assuming you get things free.
My pharmacist took a note of card no and recorded it on their system.

 

[HSSS]

For those without an exemption certificate (or waiting til it arrives and haven’t got cash enough for multiples scripts) there’s always the option of a prepaid certificate.

Bought online or in some chemists it is around £30 for 3 months worth of prescriptions (other options available). It can be a significant saving if you get lots but don’t qualify for exemption by any means.

Type 2’s diet only on - no meds - are not exempt by way of diabetes alone btw!

 

[Shannon27]

Reading through all this, i'm a little bit worried! I just tick to say i have a valid medical exemption certificate, never been asked to produce one before and i assumed it was something available to view on the NHS system?

 

[Rokaab]

Reading through all this, i'm a little bit worried! I just tick to say i have a valid medical exemption certificate, never been asked to produce one before and i assumed it was something available to view on the NHS system?

In which case you should really go check yours because they have to be renewed every 5 years (mine runs out sometime next year, I should really check when exactly it does run out).
I know my chemist asked to see mine and recorded the relevant details on their system (including the expiry date).

 

[Badge]

I just applied for my first one and the form states it should arive in 10 days.
Sure enough it arrived on the tenth day so it doesnt take long.
Your gp surgery should have the form and if you fill it out there and hand it straight in it should go off the same day.

 

[Rokaab]

You can actually check if you have a valid exemption certificate online now (as I just have), its at https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-my-nhs-exemption/start

 

[Peter03]

I had a exemption certificate back in 1970 I think for 5 years in the UK renewed once in 1987, so I was not a good boy it seems but no chemist ever asked me for it, I now live in France and luckily it is all done by computer internet I think mine now lasts to 2028 Thank goodness

 

[sno0opy]

Reading through all this, i'm a little bit worried! I just tick to say i have a valid medical exemption certificate, never been asked to produce one before and i assumed it was something available to view on the NHS system?

If you do that and they ask, if you can't produce one it's a fine.

Not worth the risk in my opinion

 

[mouseee]

You don't get any cards for the prepayment cards you only get an email reference as it's on line.

I am pretty sure I didn't get a card when dxd this summer either although I had my exemption letter. I certainly don't have one in my purse. You cant be asked to show a card when there is no physical card to show them.

 

[sammi4688]

Ah thank you very much. I thought they were going to charge me per box of insulin vial. £18 is definitely do able. Thank you very much. I was actually at the diabetes centre today and the doctor has wrote me out a prescription to pick up 2 vials from the hospital, so I'll just keep ringing the prescription place. Thank you.

@sammi4688 I hope this info in the link below will be of use.
It seems that as long as you have applied for an exemption certificate before you pay for your prescription items, as long as you get a receipt you can claim the money back.
Also, are you sure that the cost will be £54? If you don’t need the test strips ask the pharmacist to leave that off for now. Then you will pay the prescription charge of £9 for the Metformin, regardless of how many packs of that are on the script. Likewise, if your prescription is for just one type of insulin that will only cost £9 forthe 5 boxes.
Ok, I understand £18 can be a lot if you are on a tight budget, but hope you can find a way to pay it and claim back.
I would not advise just refusing to pay. Before you could argue you were unaware, but now you do know I doubt you would be treated leniently if you ‘fraudulently’ claim exemption before you have the necessary certificate ofexemption.
Ludicrous as it seems, (you are not suddenly going to be able to do without insulin) you have to renew that every 5 years.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-prescriptions.html

 

[Pipp]

Good luck, @sammi4688 . Hope you get the exemption certificate soon, so you can avoid future difficulty. This must have been stressful for you.
Remember it needs to be renewed after 5 years. Tell others who could be affected about it, and remember to read the small print on the back of the prescription.

 

[micksmixxx]

Reading through all this, i'm a little bit worried! I just tick to say i have a valid medical exemption certificate, never been asked to produce one before and i assumed it was something available to view on the NHS system?

Now that you do know, Shannon27, do make sure that you request a form to claim prescription exemptions from your doctor's surgery. (Often, the doctor's surgery will complete the form and send it in on your behalf, especially for first time claimants.)

 

[micksmixxx]

Ah thank you very much. I thought they were going to charge me per box of insulin vial. £18 is definitely do able. Thank you very much. I was actually at the diabetes centre today and the doctor has wrote me out a prescription to pick up 2 vials from the hospital, so I'll just keep ringing the prescription place. Thank you.

Hi, sammi4688.

I was going to suggest that you get in touch with your diabetes support team ... doctor/endocrinologist, certified nurse practitioner, or diabetes specialist nurse ... to ask if they could give you a hospital prescription. Obviously, you'd need to pick this up at the hospital pharmacy to be able to still not have to 'prove' your entitlement, but they would be able to dispense the required items, but I can see that you've already done this.

There shouldn't be any need for you to keep ringing the "prescription place" as it WILL get done for you.

Be well, ma'am.

Lots of Love and Light.

Mick
x x x x
x x x

P.S. Please don't be offended, or alarmed, at the 'x's'. It's merely a logo, of sorts, that I've used for the past 40-odd years.

 

[MeiChanski]

Hello, I would try and get a medical exemption form from your GP, fill it out and leave the rest to them. I tend to find my pharmacy records my ME certificate card number and put it on their computer. They do ask for it and ask me to sign the back of my script. I have recently turned to online pharmacy because I had a lot of issues getting insulin etc, they too ask me to prove my certificate. So I wouldn’t exactly go out and say they won’t ask. (Even for my hospital prescriptions too) I would pay for now and get a refund when you get your ME card.