Free prescriptions WON’T be axed for millions of over-60s as Government scraps controversial plan to raise age exemption to 66
- Majority of the more than 117,000 responses were opposed to the change
- READ MORE: Even your PILLS will cost more! NHS prescriptions rise by 30p
Millions of over-60s won’t be made to pay for prescriptions, ministers confirmed today.
Officials have binned controversial proposals to raise the age at which patients in England qualify for free scripts.
It would have seen the age exemption rise from 60 to 66, in line with the country’s state pension age.
Health chiefs considered it as one proposal to boost income for the cash-strapped NHS.
Before the move was opened to public consultation, it was estimated that it could bring in an extra £300million by 2026/27.
Officials have binned controversial proposals to raise the age at which patients in England qualify for free scripts
Who can get free prescriptions?
You can get free NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you:
- are 60 or over
- are under 16
- are 16 to 18 and in full-time education
- are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
- have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- are an NHS inpatient
You’re also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you’re under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
However, officials acknowledged ‘people may not take their prescribed medicines due to cost’. As a result, it could have had heaped extra pressure on GPs, A&Es and social care, it was claimed.
Charities said it would be a ‘kick in the teeth’ for older people.
Announcing the policy was being scrapped today, health minister Neil O’Brien said the majority of the more than 117,000 responses were opposed to the change.
Mr O’Brien told the Commons in a written parliamentary statement: ‘Responses cited, among other issues, cost-of-living pressures and risk to health of people not taking prescribed medication correctly as reasons for retaining the current upper age exemption.
‘This Government is committed to tackling cost-of-living pressures and has decided that the prescription charge upper age exemption will remain at 60, meaning that it will not change to align to state pension age.’
Currently, patients must pay £9.65 per prescription item.
Patients currently receive free prescriptions in England when they turn 60. This has not changed since 1974 for women and 1995 for men.
More people are claiming free prescriptions as increasing numbers live longer.
Exemptions are also in place for kids, those aged 16-18 and in full-time education.
People who take a lot of medications can also apply for an NHS prescription prepayment certificate which caps the price they pay for drugs.
Campaigners have long called the fee patients must pay to secure certain drugs like warfarin or asthma inhalers an ‘unfair tax on health’.
Jay Badenhorst, vice-chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: ‘People should not be denied access to prescription medicines on the basis of their ability to pay.
‘Today’s decision means that we’ll avoid many more people being dragged into that situation.
‘From a pharmacist’s point of view, processing prescription levies is a task which adds workload but has no patient benefit. We are health care professionals and have no interest in being tax collectors.
‘There would be little financial return for the NHS from increasing the upper age for exemption. It could lead to indirect costs to the NHS as people’s health suffers from making a reluctant choice not to take their medicines as prescribed.
‘Ultimately we would like to see the government go further and scrap prescription charges altogether, though we accept this is not currently on the table.’
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