Buying a Freestyle Libre Monitor and Sensors

Samitmohal said:

How do we go about saving the VAT


I am apparently ellilegable despite being a type 1 for over 18 months...however I have managed to buy my very own first sensor today at a cost £57.95 ...the sensor only lasts 2 week max until I purchase the next one.

It's a struggle to purchase libre / abbot claim limited stock (since June 2019) ....but managed to find one after months of trying everywhere from my local Tesco pharmacy.

Really disappointed as to why I have to struggle to find this and even more why the NHS discriminates against me because I dutifully like so many pay taxes and never claimed benefits......even the diabetes specialists at my hospital are at a loss.

NHS has yet again failed the taxpayer .....it needs scrapping and privatising.....currently for me that is the case...I pay through nose and get nothing in return.

God sake I only have a chronic condition.

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Just tell the pharmacy you are exempt as a diabetic. Some places have their own internal system to account for this to the VAT man on audit and ask no more. Some may ask you to sign a declaration of the above facts - the burden of honesty is on you not the pharmacy (a bit like the signing the exemption on the back of a prescription) . Very occasionally you may need to print the declaration from the government website and take it along with you.

MeiChanski said:

Usually I have to show my NHS medical exemption card and fill out a form to get VAT off when purchasing sensors over the counter. By the way your profile says you're type 2.
I also don't know if you have spoken with your consultant about getting them on the NHS, along with the criteria to be considered for one. You can argue differently if you don't fit the criteria for one.

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Technically you shouldn’t have to prove it with an exemption card. I as a type 2 not on medications do not have an exemption card. I am still diabetic and entitled to the vat free price however should I choose to buy my own libre.

Hi I have had type 1 lada since Jun 2018 I seem to need quite regular insulin changes my GAD antibodies were over 100 last year. I see an excellent diabetes nurse at the local hospital and had a trial of the freestyle libre which was incredibly helpful in preventing hypos and hypers. My levels go up and down fast, lots effects me including weather. I am having a particularly tough time at the moment and as I don't qualify to receive this on nhs the nurse I see suggested I phone round pharmacies to see about prices and availability. Thank you Mike for posting the link to the vat exemption form. I am disappointed to see that super drug have raised the price from £35 to £49. Lloyds pharmacy didn't offer the information about the vat exemption but when I mentioned it they said yes, they would sell it vat exempt, although still £52
I have found an independent pharmacy selling it at £48 incl vat but they claim never to have heard of the vat exemption. If I go down with the form does anyone know if they are obliged to accept it? Thanks
Also if anyone knows of a pharmacy selling at a better price please post. I am in East Hertfordshire.

Hi all

Quick update I have phoned the chemist this morning and they said they will accept the vat exemption form, however they claim to have just run out of sensors! They say they are placing another order and they will see what they get charged, they may be increasing the price.
I have decided to email my MP and am going to copy in Theresa May as she is type 1 diabetic and the legislation introduced in April this year is clearly not being applied.

I feel this is appalling that pharmacies are trying to make money out of something that is needed to help an illness that can be difficult to control in some people despite best efforts.

Please complain with me! Maybe if more than one person draws attention to this something might change. I am well aware it might have little impact, however I feel I have to at least try! Am I allowed to post Theresa May's email? I phoned her constituency number this morning and spoke with someone who advised me to email both my MP and Theresa May, they said they thought she would be interested. Moderator please advise.

Hertfordshiremum said:

I have decided to email my MP and am going to copy in Theresa May as she is type 1 diabetic and the legislation introduced in April this year is clearly not being applied.

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Remember that the legislation was brought in but they still only expected 20% of T1's to qualify for it, I know my CCG started prescribing them in April (they hadn't at all before then) and I think some CCGs still don't, but you might want to check to see if your CCG is actually prescribing them or not, if not then complaining is definitely the way to go, if they are however and you just haven't met the prescribing criteria your complaint may not be taken as seriously.
It would be really nice if anyone on insulin who would benefit from them/use them correctly could have them - but that's not what the legislation covers.

Hertfordshiremum said:

I feel this is appalling that pharmacies are trying to make money out of something that is needed to help an illness that can be difficult to control in some people despite best efforts.

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Do remember that it's not up to the pharmacies whether you get it on prescription or not, they would lose money if they gave you it for free with no way to get the money back, yes they are charging above cost price, but last time I checked I could still get it cheaper from my local Asda pharmacy than from Abbott themselves

Rokaab said:

Remember that the legislation was brought in but they still only expected 20% of T1's to qualify for it, I know my CCG started prescribing them in April (they hadn't at all before then) and I think some CCGs still don't, but you might want to check to see if your CCG is actually prescribing them or not, if not then complaining is definitely the way to go, if they are however and you just haven't met the prescribing criteria your complaint may not be taken as seriously.
It would be really nice if anyone on insulin who would benefit from them/use them correctly could have them - but that's not what the legislation covers.


Do remember that it's not up to the pharmacies whether you get it on prescription or not, they would lose money if they gave you it for free with no way to get the money back, yes they are charging above cost price, but last time I checked I could still get it cheaper from my local Asda pharmacy than from Abbott themselves

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Hi

Thanks for your reply, I need intensive monitoring, more than 8 times a day, so should I qualify? I have hypos and hypers despite being slim, eating low carb and exercising twice a day every day. I am feeling a bit fed up at the moment and the nurse suggested trying to buy one. The prices range from £45 to £63 around here. We don't have an Asda but I will phone as it might be worth a drive. I have been unofficially told Hertfordshire is severely lagging behind in prescribing these. Thanks for the Asda tip

Hertfordshiremum said:

The prices range from £45 to £63 around here. We don't have an Asda but I will phone as it might be worth a drive. I have been unofficially told Hertfordshire is severely lagging behind in prescribing these. Thanks for the Asda tip

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My Asda were selling them for £46.36 in April (its about £48 from Abbott) , so if you can get them for £45 close by I'd go for that.

Rokaab said:

Remember that the legislation was brought in but they still only expected 20% of T1's to qualify for it, I know my CCG started prescribing them in April (they hadn't at all before then) and I think some CCGs still don't, but you might want to check to see if your CCG is actually prescribing them or not, if not then complaining is definitely the way to go, if they are however and you just haven't met the prescribing criteria your complaint may not be taken as seriously.
It would be really nice if anyone on insulin who would benefit from them/use them correctly could have them - but that's not what the legislation covers.


Do remember that it's not up to the pharmacies whether you get it on prescription or not, they would lose money if they gave you it for free with no way to get the money back, yes they are charging above cost price, but last time I checked I could still get it cheaper from my local Asda pharmacy than from Abbott themselves

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Hi I can't get through to my nearest Asda, would you mind posting how much they are charging please? I am sure they will be consistent across stores. Many thanks

Rokaab said:

My Asda were selling them for £46.36 in April (its about £48 from Abbott) , so if you can get them for £45 close by I'd go for that.

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I will do, good to know what is considered a reasonable price. I do object to pharmacies marking these up for profit. Many Thanks for your help.

Rokaab said:

My Asda were selling them for £46.36 in April (its about £48 from Abbott) , so if you can get them for £45 close by I'd go for that.

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Hi Rokaab
I thought you would be interested to know that I have just purchased a libre sensor for £38.40! My diabetic nurse emailed me today and I mentioned the chemist not wanting to accept the vat exemption form (she wasn't impressed) and suggested I try Hobbs. So glad she said this as they had no problem with accepting the form and wanted to see my nhs exemption card, they copied the number down. Didn't need anything else, the pharmacist said he has 3 other type 1 diabetics purchasing regularly from him with vat 0%. They were extremely helpful, he asked if I had come a long way as mentioned he could order a couple of months worth if necessary. Luckily they are in my town. They have branches around the UK although mainly south and surrounding counties and Oldham. I have copied the link below. Thank you to Mike for posting the info on vat exemption for diabetics and a link to the form. I hope a few other people can purchase at this better price.

https://www.hobbspharmacy.co.uk/branch-locator/

Hertfordshiremum said:

I thought you would be interested to know that I have just purchased a libre sensor for £38.40!

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That's cool and I'm sure lots of people will be interested to know that (as it happens I now get them on prescription - mainly on the 8 tests a day thing and evidence that the libre really did improve my control - I was self-funding for about 2 years and my HbA1c is now about 10-15 lower than it had been without them)

Rokaab said:

That's cool and I'm sure lots of people will be interested to know that (as it happens I now get them on prescription - mainly on the 8 tests a day thing and evidence that the libre really did improve my control - I was self-funding for about 2 years and my HbA1c is now about 10-15 lower than it had been without them)

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Thank you for sharing that, there may be hope for me yet!

I live in Australia and have just gotten a libre freestyle, self - funded of course. I am enjoying the break from finger pricking and the data I am getting from it