General Chat

I have hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes - the hypothyroidism preceded the type 2 diabetes. I put on lots of weight that I was unable to lose because of untreated hypothyroidism (an autoimmune condition) and consequently developed type 2 diabetes.
I am now on Thyroxin and get my prescriptions free. I control my diabetes by diet and lifestyle. I do not have a blue badge.

Margee ..................


obviously very different!

It is all income related here .........

........ you have to provide all your income details to Pharmacare when you first become eligible for pension at 65.

They then decide the deductible, accessing your last year's tax record each year to make any necessary adjustment ................. and it seems that you have to be on really low pension income to get the lowest deductible

It is then supposed to kick in automatically at the pharmacist when you reach that amount

We have friends who only get OAS and CPP to an amount of around $23,000 a year ............... and although the deductible kicks in for them, they don't get their prescriptions completely free until it reaches a real high annual cost. I think they get about 75% of the cost paid initially.



Let's say, we have never apparently approached spending the amount of deductible they allot to us as a couple :-(

Useful to know Jax, may help others :-D

I have 7 drugs on repeat plus 2 lots of medical equipment, I'm so glad I didn't have to pay ;-)

I know because I get it :-D

Only have one prescription every two months so not milking the system

supercrutch - thanks, have put that address on favourites so I can check it at any time

Well I didn't know that Jax so I googled :-D

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/prescription-chargeshealth-benefits

You can also get free prescriptions if you cannot get out of the house by yourself.... Not sure why that would be

Thank you all for your contributions. I asked the question because I remembered my step-sister had a blue badge because she was diabetic and a friend, also a diabetic, always got all prescriptions free prior to his being 60. Seems some do and some don't.

Must be different in BC than here in Ontario, Sylvia. Prescriptions are free for all seniors but if your income is over a certain amount you have to pay the first $100 each year. I have many prescriptions because of heart disease and diabetes but I only pay $100 per year.

I really don't know why insulin and thyroxin dependant patients are entitled to free prescriptions.
Both are hormones rather than drugs and perhaps providing free scripts to these patients should be an outdated practice.

I dont want to come across as nasty or judgemental, but type1 and type2 diabetes have entirely different root causes and are controlled differently.
Naming both conditions "Diabetes" ...causes the confusion.

Type1 is auto-immune and is not caused by lifestyle or diet.
It cannot be prevented and there is no cure

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

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

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.

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

Andy

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

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.

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

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

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

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.