Medical Exemption Certificates

You have to renew them, your GP surgery will have a form.

I've just checked my exemption card, valid from April 2017 until April 2022. There's a strange difference.

Did it expire or did you never have one?

Yep. In theory you shouldn't be able not to pay for your prescriptions without showing your card. In practice, if your prescription is for diabetes medication most pharmacists skip looking at the card, since it's obvious you're exempt anyway.

You are supposed to be sent a letter to renew, you need to confirm that you are still taking diabetic medication. I don't think they are terribly organized though, last time I got an exemption card it was a five year pregnancy exemption.

I didn't know about this either. The first time I needed diabetic meds the pharmacist just ticked the box. The 2nd time a different one asked about my exemption card and then gave me a form to fill out to request one.

steveis36 said:

Just got a fine for last month meditation for not haveing a exemption certification which is weird due the fact ive been have diabetic medication for 2 years

My doc/nurse has never said anything about this.

Has anyone else had anything like this

Click to expand...

You have to fill in a form from your doctor or pharmacist. It then goes to your GP who fills it in to say you are diabetic. You post it off to NHS Business Services who process the cards. They will then send you a small white card with your name and a certificate number and an expiry date. They last 5 years. Then you renew them every 5 years.

Without this card and the form you fill out, the NHS fees people have no idea who you are or that you have diabetes. So they will fine you if you are not on their system.

You should have been given the form by the person who diagnosed your diabetes. But it is still seen as your responsibility to organise the exemption by the NHS fees people.

Appeal the fine and apply for your card asap. You should get back any fees you pay for meds in the meantime as long as you get a receipt from the pharmacy.

You should be able to get help claiming back the money if you ring the number on the form and ask for help.

Never knew about this! I have been type 1 for 46 years and as far as I know, I have never had a medecial exemption certificate (as far as I know)

Just had a quick read on this. I live in Wales and do not need one UNLESS I pick up a prescription anywhere else in the UK

steveis36 said:

never ever been offered a card or anything, and didnt even know i needed one.
Ummm so much faith i have in my doctor and diabetic nurse i have.......NOT!!

Click to expand...

I'm surprised you managed to get prescriptions for 2 years without ever being asked for a certificate, when I used Boots for my prescriptions they had my certificate number on file, when the last one expired they asked if I had got a new one. Now I use Tesco and they ask for my certificate every time I pick up a prescription.
Were you ticking the box to say you had a valid certificate?