Feeling scammed (Prescriptions)

[Scania]

The same thing is £50ish paying privately, think how ripped off those of us who can't get an NHS dentist feel

I get that wholeheartedly, the difference being your paying for a private service and they charge accordingly (not saying fairly mind you) - it annoys me with NHS dentists that they charge and quite a lot for a service that's supposedly free at the point of delivery because it's on the face of it, funded by taxpayers...

 

[Rai200]

*** Hope this doesn't constitute a medical thread, not going to be discussing medical issues, just how backwards society seems ***


Is it wrong to feel agreived and even scammed regarding prescriptions.

Just been to the docs for abdominal pains, prescribed 2 lot of antibiotics (due to allergies) & paid the princely sum of £20 because I work.

Yet if I were a dole squatting, oxygen theiving, resource drain on society, they'd have been free.

Surely that's backwards? I pay thousands a year in taxes to pay for healthcare services already, shouldn't I be the one recieving "free" medication having techinically already paid for it?

You received them heavily subsidised, if we lived in a society with no social safety nets like those provided to people out of work... they would have cost you a lot more than £20. Or you would be paying £400 a month on top of tax for medical insurance.

In America for example: "The average cost of generic antibiotics without insurance is $42.67, while the average price for brand-name antibiotics is $221.75"

 

[firstborn]

All my prescriptions are free for life now, DM me if you want to know how to play the system.

 

[robfosters]

Shows what sort of person the OP is really. Starts a self entitled thread about prescriptions which incudes a horrid slur on the less fortunate, then when it doesn’t go the way he thought it would, he just abandons the thread without so much as even trying to argue his corner or admit he was wrong.

Literally not one more post since the OP. Disgraceful.

@Resident Are you out there?

 

[Diddums]

Shows what sort of person the OP is really. Starts a self entitled thread about prescriptions which incudes a horrid slur on the less fortunate, then when it doesn’t go the way he thought it would, he just abandons the thread without so much as even trying to argue his corner or admit he was wrong.

Literally not one more post since the OP. Disgraceful.

@Resident Are you out there?

Probably trying to save face, for what it's worth.

Lol.

 

[sprite1275]

Shows what sort of person the OP is really. Starts a self entitled thread about prescriptions which incudes a horrid slur on the less fortunate, then when it doesn’t go the way he thought it would, he just abandons the thread without so much as even trying to argue his corner or admit he was wrong.

Literally not one more post since the OP. Disgraceful.

@Resident Are you out there?

TBF I would if thought he was on about people that do play the system. Not everyone on benefits are glowing angel's.

 

[mysticsniper]

Shows what sort of person the OP is really. Starts a self entitled thread about prescriptions which incudes a horrid slur on the less fortunate, then when it doesn’t go the way he thought it would, he just abandons the thread without so much as even trying to argue his corner or admit he was wrong.

Literally not one more post since the OP. Disgraceful.

@Resident Are you out there?

Probably in the process of moving to Scotland for those free meds

 

[Haggisman]

Probably because the ones that help during a flare-up contain a steroid that if overused can leave scar tissue within your system.

Yes they do. And paracetamol will kill you slowly and painfully from liver failure. Ibuprofen can cause significant ulceration of the stomach.

The more dangerous medication for minor pain is available from the supermarket. The less dangerous medication which could save your life is not even available OTC from a pharmacy

 

[Resident]

i think you have some valid points ,the only issue is sentence 4 but if that's meant to be the ones that play the system not the genuine needy i can see what you are getting at

TBF I would if thought he was on about people that do play the system. Not everyone on benefits are glowing angel's.

Seemingly the only ones who got the specificity of the 4th line.

Obviously I overestimated the comprehension skills of OcUK members.

For clarification, the line refers to the 'Won't works', scrotes that plague towns/cities usually smashed of their faces & those that think the world owes them a living.

Those that cannot work, through disability, kids & elderly (who have paid into the system throughout their lifes) I have no issue.

Shows what sort of person the OP is really. Starts a self entitled thread about prescriptions which incudes a horrid slur on the less fortunate, then when it doesn’t go the way he thought it would, he just abandons the thread without so much as even trying to argue his corner or admit he was wrong.

Literally not one more post since the OP. Disgraceful.

@Resident Are you out there?

I've been away from my desk recovering , since sitting was painful. Even without that, some of us have lives outside OcUK and I'm often not on the forum for a day or two.

But you carry on posting your banality of what you're eating, I'm sure people find it scintillating.

 

[platinum87]

*** Hope this doesn't constitute a medical thread, not going to be discussing medical issues, just how backwards society seems ***


Is it wrong to feel agreived and even scammed regarding prescriptions.

Just been to the docs for abdominal pains, prescribed 2 lot of antibiotics (due to allergies) & paid the princely sum of £20 because I work.

Yet if I were a dole squatting, oxygen theiving, resource drain on society, they'd have been free.

Surely that's backwards? I pay thousands a year in taxes to pay for healthcare services already, shouldn't I be the one recieving "free" medication having techinically already paid for it?

Your perspective is wrong.

Those people are trapped in a prison of perpetual poverty, because all problems are someone elses fault or somethings fault.

Abolishing socialist policies is not about benefitting myself, but everyone else.

You can always move to the US where everybody pays…you either through overpriced insurance or overpriced prescriptions…just like the jobless.

In the UK healthcare spending is 85% public, and in the US its 45%

Its not 100% vs 0%

You move to the US you are in exactly the same situation i believe as you'd be in the UK.

You received them heavily subsidised, if we lived in a society with no social safety nets like those provided to people out of work... they would have cost you a lot more than £20. Or you would be paying £400 a month on top of tax for medical insurance.

In America for example: "The average cost of generic antibiotics without insurance is $42.67, while the average price for brand-name antibiotics is $221.75"

They are subsidsed by the taxpayer, without safety nets they would be cheaper.

In addition with no safety nets, millions of people will be working now, who were not working, what could they do that is useful.

What could like 5 million people in the UK do, if they started working full time? A lot!!

 

[visibleman]

Obviously I overestimated the comprehension skills of OcUK members.

For clarification...

Throws out blanket statement tarring everyone using the benefit system then questions everyones "comprehension skills" because the words the OP used aren't the words they meant...

 

[Priapus]

Those of you moaning, should try being in USA or even South Africa and needing meds. Nothing is free.

 

[Haggisman]

For clarification, the line refers to the 'Won't works', scrotes that plague towns/cities usually smashed of their faces & those that think the world owes them a living.

Those that cannot work, through disability, kids & elderly (who have paid into the system throughout their lifes) I have no issue.

Let's hear your cost effective and flawless strategy for identifying which is which so that the NHS can implement it then please?

But you carry on posting your banality of what you're eating, I'm sure people find it scintillating.

Ooh, big words, my mistake, you must be clever

 

[Rai200]

They are subsidsed by the taxpayer, without safety nets they would be cheaper.

So why are they 10x as expensive in the US, with fewer safety nets?

In addition with no safety nets, millions of people will be working now, who were not working, what could they do that is useful.

What could like 5 million people in the UK do, if they started working full time? A lot!!

Where are you pulling these numbers from? There's only 1.5m working age people out of employment and most of those are transient.

There's also less than a million vacancies in the UK, the jobs literally don't exist you melt.

 

[ShiWarrior]

I pay £11:50 per month on my PPP. I get five items of medication a month and I love it!

You pay at 11:50 ? That time every month?

 

[Werewolf]

What could like 5 million people in the UK do, if they started working full time? A lot!!

Are there 5 million out of work in the UK?

And how many of them are actually capable of work and not already doing something else...

IIRC for example by DWP standards you are only officially a carer if you are putting 40 hours a week into looking after someone and DWP do not count being ready to respond over night in those hours unless you are actively needed all night (and thus happily ruling out anyone who needs to be on site and ready to go but "only" needed 2 or 3 times*).
IIRC there are 1.5 million people in the UK out of work completely, to put things in perspective there are 5 million unpaid carers (and only 1.4 million people in the UK claim carers) and most of the unpaid adult carers are classed as "unemployed" despite the fact they might be "working" 60 hours a week or more caring for someone, just unable to actually get paid anything other than JSA for it.

I know when my mother was ill she required 3 people to barely manage to care for her but under DWP rules only 1 of those could have potentially claimed despite the fact that she needed people up and around 24/7 and we were very lucky we could do that.



*Try doing things like changing bedding and spending 30 minute at a time caring for someone multiple times a night and saying that's not going to affect your ability to work, or not the same as being on call for the full 8 hours, but apparently it only counts for DWP if you are actively needed all night.

 

[beachBOYken]

Free when you turn 60, which I didn't know.

I used to get the annual prescription payment as at 3 prescriptions a month it was much cheaper.

I get this yearly prescription as well, if you pay and get medication on a monthly basis it makes sense.

I paid for yearly 3-4 months back and with my general prescriptions and a few prescribed from doctors for a one off medical need I’ve already paid the price off!
It’s well worth doing, got to be really daft not to if you get medication regularly.

 

[burtie]

You pay at 11:50 ? That time every month?

Hell yeah, same time monthly like your period.

 

[bigmike20vt]

Hell yeah, same time monthly like your period.

you need to get a prepayment card. iirc they are £110 and last you for the year for any meds you need.

FWIW i do not begrudge those who need it having access to free meds. it is one of the things which i think historically the uk should be v proud of. the NHS is a bit knackered at the moment but i have to believe it can be fixed.

mind you i am biased. i saw the cost of my asthma medication a few years back. i am a definite drain on resources. i do think everyone should get the actual cost of the meds they are receiving when we get them, just as an eye opener to us all. maybe people would be less wasteful with them if they knew that asthama inhaler they were using for instance cost £30, and as such would make sure it was fully used up before chucking it.

mind you on the flip side, my mate who uses a private GP, he got antibiotics for his kid .. ok the prescription cost a lot to get (but was covered on his insurance) but the actual cost of the meds was only £6 odd.

 

[Werewolf]

IIRC the main reason that prescription charges don't vary in the UK is basically for the smallish number of ones that are under the current charge amount you'd still need to cover the cost of the pharmacist dispensing them, then the cost of administering it.
Also there is a very strong incentive to avoid making things like antibiotics over the counter/off the shelf because people abuse them a lot and we've been running into the problems that causes for the last 30 years with an increasing number of diseases that are resistant to the older cheaper antibiotics, so there is a strong incentive to only give them out when they are deemed necessary by a doctor.

Basically it would probably cost the NHS more in admin than it would save, and with over the counter medications you'd still need to allow for the fact that there has to be a pharmacist there to authorise it/answering any questions/give advice as needed and that isn't covered by the base cost of the medication (unlike say "off the shelf" medications).
Also a part of the prescription cost is basically ensuring that there is a fully qualified pharmacist, and IIRC they've basically not been getting much of an increase for years hence why so many pharmacies have shut down (IIRC they get about 89p per item).