Do you get free prescriptions in the UK?

[chinta]

I was wondering whether diabetics get free prescriptions in the UK as so many of you talk about wanting to get your testing strips on prescription but if you have to pay for the prescriptions an SD Codefree meter and it's strips would be cheaper to buy than having on prescription.

 

[Daibell]

In the UK as diabetics we do get free prescriptions, but GPs are reluctant to provide meters hence strips on prescription for T2s due to the cost to our NHS. Some will but it's a bit of a lottery. It's OK for T1s. Some surgeries like mine have preferred meters although they allow exceptions.

 

[AndBreathe]

In the UK as diabetics we do get free prescriptions, but GPs are reluctant to provide meters hence strips on prescription for T2s due to the cost to our NHS. Some will but it's a bit of a lottery. It's OK for T1s. Some surgeries like mine have preferred meters although they allow exceptions.

To be absolutely clear and pedantic, only diabetics taking medication for their diabetes are entitles to exemption from prescription charges. Those, like me, fortunate enough to have avoided medication, are required to pay for whatever medication is prescribed for us, for any reason. For many T2s, and I feel it will be increasingly common, irrespective of prescription exemption status, finger prick testing supplies are neither supplied nor prescribed by a doctor. Many enlightened T2s self-fund their testing.

I don't believe the new NICE guidelines improve the likelihood of sponsored finger prick testing for T2s.

 

[Juicyjan53]

I'm one of the 'fortunate' ones insomuch as I had no problems receiving a meter and other stuff from my GP. I get free prescriptions on two counts - I'm taking Metformin and I'm over sixty.

 

[chinta]

That's interesting that it's only if you're on diabetic medication. I have just received my letter through from the French health service telling me that now i have been confirmed diabetic I get 100% of treatment free. As you may know, in France we have to partly pay for our health treatment which should be done with a health insurance policy. In the letter it said that I would be able to have free consultations with dieticians, DNs or consultants and I could choose to go and see these people of my own accord if I felt they would help with the management of the diabetes, normally you have to pay full whack if you go to specialists without having been referred by your GP.

 

[MH2010]

Here in Scotland, ALL prescriptions are free.

 

[Enclave]

I live in Scotland so all prescriptions are free

 

[4ratbags]

In NZ we have one yearly appointment with the Dr free, dieticians, the local diabetes nurse and retinopathy screening are all free but it is $5 for each prescription but it is very hard to get a script for test strips.

 

[chinta]

Just reading your history there 4 ratbags, 4.5 stones in just under 2 years - fantastic! Hope I can do the same. As of this morning I have lost 3.5kg since 16th November. I'm trying to keep under 30g a day.

 

[4ratbags]

Youre doing really well yourself chinta, it can be such a battle sometimes trying to lose weight and keep the carbs down.

 

[phoenix]

Hi Chinta, you don't get everything at 100%, only things related to your diabetes. If you break a leg or need to go and see a gynae for example, then it's only reimbursed as normal. I (or rather my insurance) has to pay 30% for my thyroid medication, even though it's probably very much related to my T1.(fortunately, it's a very cheap drug)
Also if you went to a consultant that charged more than the conventionne charge, then they would only reimburse you for that.
For Type 2s the number of strips that they are allowed to prescribe (and be reimbursed for) is regulated by law. (not more than 200 strips a year if not on insulin http://www.ameli.fr/assures/soins-e...bandelettes-d-autosurveillance-glycemique.php )

 

[Daphne917]

There are other conditions in the UK that you get free prescriptions. I am not on diabetic meds but do take Thyroxine for my Hypothyroidism so get all of my prescriptions free. On the other hand my husband who is on Warfarin and heart pills has to pay for his despite some of them being essential to keep his heart going etc!

 

[ladybird64]

There are other conditions in the UK that you get free prescriptions. I am not on diabetic meds but do take Thyroxine for my Hypothyroidism so get all of my prescriptions free. On the other hand my husband who is on Warfarin and heart pills has to pay for his despite some of them being essential to keep his heart going etc!

I wonder how they work this out too to be honest Daphne, I have long thought it's an unfair system. When there is danger to life if the meds aren't used, in comparison to some diabetes drugs being available for free, I can't understand the thinking behind it.

Sorry if that seems harsh but its how I see it.

 

[Mep]

Here in Australia we get subsidies for things mostly. So for me I have my insulin subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. So that means with a script from my doc I pay $35 I think it is for 5 boxes of pens. If it wasn't covered I'd have to pay $500 for the same boxes (so if I didn't have a script, that's what I'd have to pay). I get my needles for free under the National Diabetic Service Scheme (NDSS). I pay full price for lancets. I pay about $16.50 or so for test strips box of 100 (that's about $50 full price without my NDSS card). I see my endocrinologist in a public hospital so that is free. Although if you see them privately you have to pay a consult fee and you get some of it back through medicare here. I pretty much have to pay for all my other docs and medications. I get subsidies for most things. Just to give you an idea, I saw my neurologist this week and he charged $450 consult fee which I paid up front and I get $224 back. I had an MRI done for $615 which I pay up front and I got $380 back. My GP even used to charge me each consult until he forced me to work part time hours and he now bulk bills me (medicare pays) so I have no out of pocket cost with him anymore... but I used to have to pay $72.50 each time to see him and I'd get $36.50 back. So overall the price of health can get rather costly when you have a few things going on. But here we can't get everything for diabetic care provided for free. I used to have to pay for my oral meds too (they were subsidised) so I'd pay between $20-$35 for most meds. Sometimes meds can cost more... depends what it is. They wanted to put me on cholesterol meds but I didn't meet the criteria for the subsidy so it would've cost me about $100 per month for the drug. I said sorry no I'm not going on it unless I meet the criteria and I have to be on it.

 

[Daphne917]

I wonder how they work this out too to be honest Daphne, I have long thought it's an unfair system. When there is danger to life if the meds aren't used, in comparison to some diabetes drugs being available for free, I can't understand the thinking behind it.

Sorry if that seems harsh but its how I see it.

I agree with you - it does seem an arbitrary system. We buy an annual pre-payment prescription card which is £104.00 at present as he has about 3-4 lots of pills/inhalers a month but it annoys us that we have to do it. I also wonder how Scotland can afford to offer everybody free prescriptions but England can't!

 

[TorqPenderloin]

These threads always fascinate me as there is still an ongoing battle about health insurance here in the US. The bottom line is that there is a huge range in the level of care you can have here in the US (from nothing to top tier) compared to many European countries which seem to have very consistent (but limited) healthcare options.

My health insurance through work costs about $1200/year and my maximum annual out of pocket is $2000. Meaning after I pay that much in medical bills (almost) everything is covered 100% by my insurance. That basically translates to $3200/year in health costs (about 2100 gbp) which is nothing compared to the additional $10k+ I'd pay in income taxes if I lived in the UK.

A few examples: when I was first diagnosed, my emergency room visit cost me about $1600 which probably would have been free in the UK. However, my Dexcom G5 kit and 28 sensors has cost me a total of $287 (less than 200 gbp).

I don't mean for any of this to sound/turn political, but it's truly interesting to me.

 

[babsy2]

I was wondering whether diabetics get free prescriptions in the UK as so many of you talk about wanting to get your testing strips on prescription but if you have to pay for the prescriptions an SD Codefree meter and it's strips would be cheaper to buy than having on prescription.

Absolutely we do get free prescriptions and as a T2 I do get the strips aswell

 

[copey399]

I'm pension age now so (in England) I get free prescriptions. I just get mad though that we're supposed to be the United Kingdom and yet both Scotland and Wales get everything free but here in England it's some extortionate price like about £8.20 per item for what they consider "non life threatening conditions". And if you have something that comes under "life threatening" you get everything free not just the relevant meds.

Why can't they have a standard charge across the board, like say £5 for everything. It would stop people clogging up the surgeries for stupid things like cough medicine just because they won't go out and buy some.

 

[chinta]

I'm pension age now so (in England) I get free prescriptions. I just get mad though that we're supposed to be the United Kingdom and yet both Scotland and Wales get everything free but here in England it's some extortionate price like about £8.20 per item for what they consider "non life threatening conditions". And if you have something that comes under "life threatening" you get everything free not just the relevant meds.

Why can't they have a standard charge across the board, like say £5 for everything. It would stop people clogging up the surgeries for stupid things like cough medicine just because they won't go out and buy some.

I quite agree copey399! Isn't dibetes classed as "life-tretening" then? It is here in France.

 

[Shar67]

Roughly 90% of England prescriptions are free, made up of the under 16s ( under 18 if in full time education), the over 60s and people on benefits. England has a population of about 58 million, Scotland 5 million, if like England 90% are entitled to free meds this would mean only 500,000 would be paying for prescriptions, the cost to administrate paid for prescriptions would negate any benefit hence all get free. It is also worth remembering England, Wales and Scotland have separate run NHS.
The devolved countries made the choice to spend money on Health and Education, England with its much bigger population has decided that there is other priorities

Edit
If you want free prescriptions you could always move, but be prepared to pay more council tax, food and fuel bills.