General Chat

Can anyone explain why people with Diabetes get blue badges and free prescription (on all medicines not just for diabetes) whilst people with asthma have to pay for all inhalers.
No nastiness intended just curious.
Phyll

I don't know the answer but.......

You have a good point there Phyll.

Are you sure about free medication for diabetics? As far as I'm aware son-i-l pays for all of his meds including needles.

Unless they are physically disabled, a diabetic is NOT entitled to a Blue Badge.

I have diabetes and I don't have a blue badge

but I do get free meds

My ex is a diabetic and pays for his meds. He hasn't applied for a blue badge so I can't answer that one.

At the time the NHS came into being diabetes was the only condition that required continuous medication to keep the sufferer alive, so it was made free. People would die without it.

Since then there have been many more conditions discovered and medications invented but the country just can't afford to make it all free - and it would be a brave government that made diabetes medicine subject to payment. It has been talked about but nobody dares.

There are some other uneven mixes -my daughter has to have thyroxin for low thyroid which is for life, and she does get any other prescriptions free. I'm very glad for her! but ??

And diabetic people do not automatically get blue badges. They have to apply like everyone else and are subject to the same criteria.

My daughter and BiL have thyroid and all free prescriptions.
It makes no sense.
Blue badges are a separate issue, unconnected.

If, living in England, someone needs a constant supply of prescribed medication, and are not entitled to have them for free.........buy a Prescription Season Ticket.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx
If you need more than 12 prescribed medicines each year, you could save money with a 12-month PPC.

You can also buy a three-month PPC, which will save you money if you need more than three prescribed medicines in three months.

The charge for a single prescribed medicine is £8.05, whereas a three-month PPC will cost you £29.10 and a 12-month PPC £104.00.

The rules regarding blue badges are straightforward....you must have a severe problem with mobility.

However, some concessions are made if it can be proved that a blue badge would enable to holder to live more independently and they are in receipt of the highest rate of DLA, mobility OR care.

You can apply for a short term blue badge, this covers medical conditions that are considered to be temporary or will be cured/under control within a limited number of months.

I haven't a clue about paying for scrips as mine are all free in Wales.

Prescriptions in Scotland are free to all but, they haven't aways been free.

During that time my daughter developed hyper-thyroidism and after 5 years, opted for radio active iodine treatment to paralyse her thyroid.
As soon as she was on thyroxine, she too was entitled to free prescriptions regardless.

Lucky white heather as they say... she has since developed diabetes type1, which like her thyroid problem is an auto immune condition.

All her prescriptions are free, as they would be anyway in Scotland but as Guinevere says, her life DOES depend on both thyroxine and insulin.

Her diving licence only lasts a few years at a time, but she does not have a blue badge!

A diabetic blue badge holder possibly has nerve damage in their legs which causes mobility problems

I'm Type 2 diabetic. Have some mobility probs but not got a Blue Badge. Blue Badge setup is separate from diabetes and is based on mobility etc.

Am OAP so don't pay for prescriptions BUT prior to me being put on Gliclizade I needed to test once daily but NICE had ruled only those insulin dependant or on Gliclazide could have the test strips/lancets prescribed so test strips cost me £27 and Lancets £12 despite me being OAP. Some GPs would have prescribed them free. Tis a post code lottery

My hubby has a heart problem ...life long but has to pay for his meds !!! why? when those on thyroxin dont!??

solve the problem .......................


make everyone pay for their prescriptions



we have to pay for all our drugs here, unless you are very low income.



The provincial Medicare programme will kick in and cover at least part of the cost for OAPs when a certain deductible level has been reached.

Have just worked out that my repeat prescriptions alone each month would be over £120 for one month!

Before I reached the magic age I used to buy an annual subscription. :-0

I take stuff for blood pressure and chorestral (sp), every day, but still have to pay.

Andy

Chris ..............


my medications cost me around £2000 a year .................... and that is after our Extended Health Insurance kicks in after I have spent about £500 by about March. That insurance covers from 0 - 80% of most drugs

Add the cost of my physiotherapy, which is not free, glasses, and dental work over and above what our private Dental Insurance covers ................... and I claim back about £2500 - 3000 from the government on my Income Tax Return.


If we did not have Extended Health Insurance .............. we'd be paying out about £4000 per year


Losek, for example, costs me just under £250 for 3 months ........... and that is just one of the repeat prescriptions that I have.


Blood pressure and cholesterol medications cost about another £250 - 300 for 3 months supply.

As pensioners we dont pay for our prescriptions but we did before we retired

I am on Losek and blood pressure and cholesterol tabs .OH is on blood pressure and cholesterol tabs as well as Rivastigmine patches for his alzheimer

When I applied for a blue badge because of his balance problems I told them he had Lewy Body Dementia and alzheimer and was rudely told alzheimer doesn't qualify for a badge!! .

I wasn't applying on the basis of alzheimer just giving his medical history .He did get a blue badge because of his problems with walking and balance and does have falls

In England you get free prescriptions when you are 60 or over, not when you retire.